UPDATE- Qatari emir, Syrian president discuss supporting pathways for peace, stability in Syria

REVISES DECK, ADDS DETAILS

By Husameddin Salih, Rania Abushamala and Tarek Chouiref

ISTANBUL (AA) - Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa spoke by phone Tuesday on efforts to support pathways for peace and political stability in Syria through peaceful solutions that preserve the country’s unity and sovereignty over its territory.

The two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations between their countries and ways to strengthen and develop them at various levels, the Amiri Diwan, or Emir's office, said in a statement.

They also discussed “the latest regional and international developments, particularly those related to the situation in Syria.”

In a separate call, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Sharaa discussed border security, coordination to reopen border crossings and efforts to pursue remnants of the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group, according to a statement from al-Sudani’s media office.

The statement said the two leaders reviewed developments in Syria and the security challenges facing the country, with al-Sudani stressing Iraq’s commitment to preserving Syria’s security and stability.

Al-Sudani underscored the importance of dialogue in resolving crises, guaranteeing the rights of all components of the Syrian people and safeguarding Syria’s territorial unity and sovereignty.

For his part, Sharaa affirmed Syria’s commitment to securing the shared border and praised the Iraqi government’s efforts in this regard while stressing the need to enhance bilateral coordination, particularly in the security field, to protect borders, pursue remaining ISIS elements and coordinate efforts to reopen border crossings.

Early Tuesday, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced a four-day ceasefire to ensure the success of the understanding reached with the SDF group.