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Syrian Official’s Visit to Oman May Signal a Diplomatic Opening Syrian Official’s Visit to Oman May Signal a Diplomatic Opening
(about 1 hour later)
Syria’s government sent a high-level delegation on Thursday to Oman, the Persian Gulf state that historically has helped broker negotiations in regional conflicts.Syria’s government sent a high-level delegation on Thursday to Oman, the Persian Gulf state that historically has helped broker negotiations in regional conflicts.
The delegation was led by Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, and was his first visit to Oman since the Syrian war began more than four years ago. The delegation was led by Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, in his first visit to Oman since the Syrian war began more than four years ago.
Arranged at the invitation of the Omanis, the visit raised new speculation that diplomatic energy is intensifying to seek a way to end the war.Arranged at the invitation of the Omanis, the visit raised new speculation that diplomatic energy is intensifying to seek a way to end the war.
The official news agencies of Syria and Oman prominently reported the visit, in which Mr. Moallem conferred with his Omani counterpart, Yusuf bin Alawi. Specific details were not disclosed, but Sana, the Syrian agency, said both agreed that the “time has come for unifying constructive efforts to put an end to the crisis in Syria.”The official news agencies of Syria and Oman prominently reported the visit, in which Mr. Moallem conferred with his Omani counterpart, Yusuf bin Alawi. Specific details were not disclosed, but Sana, the Syrian agency, said both agreed that the “time has come for unifying constructive efforts to put an end to the crisis in Syria.”
The war has left a quarter of a million people dead, displaced half of Syria’s population, created a vibrant incubator for Islamic extremism and sown instability in the Middle East.The war has left a quarter of a million people dead, displaced half of Syria’s population, created a vibrant incubator for Islamic extremism and sown instability in the Middle East.
Mr. Moallem’s visit came amid other signs of possible diplomatic shifts on Syria, along with indications that the government of President Bashar al-Assad was losing ground militarily.Mr. Moallem’s visit came amid other signs of possible diplomatic shifts on Syria, along with indications that the government of President Bashar al-Assad was losing ground militarily.
Last week, for example, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, announced that he had invited a range of Syrians to participate in separate discussions on how to restart peace talks.Last week, for example, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, announced that he had invited a range of Syrians to participate in separate discussions on how to restart peace talks.
The United States and Turkey also began a joint military effort last week to strike Islamic State targets in Syria and provide safe zones along northern Syria’s 500-mile border with Turkey.The United States and Turkey also began a joint military effort last week to strike Islamic State targets in Syria and provide safe zones along northern Syria’s 500-mile border with Turkey.
And the United States and Russia, in a rare instance of cooperation over Syria, agreed Wednesday on a United Nations Security Council resolution to identify and hold accountable the users of chlorine bombs in the war, widely believed to be forces loyal to Mr. Assad.And the United States and Russia, in a rare instance of cooperation over Syria, agreed Wednesday on a United Nations Security Council resolution to identify and hold accountable the users of chlorine bombs in the war, widely believed to be forces loyal to Mr. Assad.
Oman has often played a quiet role as a conciliator in the region. It helped in recent years to broker the release of French aid workers held by Qaeda extremists in Yemen and of three American hikers held in Iran.Oman has often played a quiet role as a conciliator in the region. It helped in recent years to broker the release of French aid workers held by Qaeda extremists in Yemen and of three American hikers held in Iran.
It also was the host of secret talks between the United States and Iran a few years ago that helped revive negotiations on the disputed Iranian nuclear program, which yielded an agreement last month. It was also the host of secret talks between the United States and Iran a few years ago that helped revive negotiations on the disputed Iranian nuclear program, which yielded an agreement last month.
Oman is the only country in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council that has not joined the Saudi-led military coalition bombing Yemen, and in recent months it has sought to help find a solution to the conflict there as well. Oman is the only country in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council that has not joined the Saudi-led military coalition bombing Yemen, and in recent months, it has sought to help find a solution to the conflict there as well.
Mr. Assad, who is closely allied with Iran, has strained relations with many other countries in the region because of the war in Syria, which began in March 2011 as a political uprising against him and morphed into a civil conflict that has become a breeding ground for extremist groups, most notably the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, an affiliate of Al Qaeda.Mr. Assad, who is closely allied with Iran, has strained relations with many other countries in the region because of the war in Syria, which began in March 2011 as a political uprising against him and morphed into a civil conflict that has become a breeding ground for extremist groups, most notably the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, an affiliate of Al Qaeda.
Last month, Mr. Assad conceded on national television that he faced a recruitment problem in the armed forces, which have ceded territory to the Islamic State, mainly in northern and eastern Syria.Last month, Mr. Assad conceded on national television that he faced a recruitment problem in the armed forces, which have ceded territory to the Islamic State, mainly in northern and eastern Syria.
On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain with a contact network in Syria, said Islamic State fighters had seized Qaryatayn, a town in central Syria.On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain with a contact network in Syria, said Islamic State fighters had seized Qaryatayn, a town in central Syria.
If confirmed, it would be the group’s first capture of a strategically important town in Syria since Islamic State fighters seized Palmyra, a storied ancient city, in May.If confirmed, it would be the group’s first capture of a strategically important town in Syria since Islamic State fighters seized Palmyra, a storied ancient city, in May.