Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar, right, greeting his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad at Tunis–Carthage International Airport, April 17, 2023 (Tunisian Foreign Ministry)

Syria will reopen its embassy in Tunisia in the next few days after the two countries witnessed a series of diplomatic breakthroughs in the past month, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad announced on Tuesday.

Last week, Damascus and Tunis announced in a joint statement that Syria will reopen its diplomatic mission in Tunisia and appoint an ambassador there.

Syria's decision followed a similar move by Tunis on April 3, when Tunisian President Kais Saied instructed his Foreign Minister to begin procedures to appoint an ambassador to Damascus.

The credentials of Mohammed Al-Mahzibi, Tunisia's appointed ambassador to Syria, have been sent to Damascus last week.

Mekdad arrived in Tunisia on Monday on an official work visit. Tunisia's Foreign Ministry said this visit reflects both countries' willingness to restore full bilateral relations.

"Over the next few days, the Syrian embassy in Tunisia will be opened and new diplomats, led by an ambassador, will be sent to carry out their duties to strengthen relations between the two countries after a bold decision taken by [Tunisian] President Kais Saied to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries," Mekdad said.

He also affirmed the need to "make more efforts to strengthen inter-Arab relations and prevent foreign states from dividing the Arab countries and their peoples."

On his part, President Saied conveyed his warmest greetings to President Al-Assad and his great happiness for the development of ties binding the two countries, wishing further progress and prosperity for the Syrian leadership, government, and people.

He also highlighted the achievements that Syria has made in its war on terrorism, its steadfastness in the face of conspiracies, and its preservation of its sovereignty.

Saied further expressed his satisfaction with what is being witnessed in terms of developments in Syrian-Arab relations.

In 2015, Tunisia took a step toward re-establishing relations when it designated a consular representative to Damascus to follow up on the situation of Tunisians in Syria.

Tunisia, like many other Arab countries, severed diplomatic ties with Damascus after the start of the war on Syria in 2011. But now the tides have changed in favor of Damascus, which saw dramatic political activity with other Arab countries in the past month, as the overwhelming majority of the Arab world has either already restored ties with Syria or is on the way.

Al Mayadeen correspondent in Damascus reported that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Tuesday received Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the presidential palace.

The Syrian presidency said Al-Assad assured bin Farhan that the sound relations between Syria and the Kingdom are the natural state that should prevail and that these relations do not only hold interest for the two countries but also reflect an Arab and regional interest.

#Damascus | President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar Al-Assad received today His Highness the Foreign Minister Prince @FaisalbinFarhan as part of his official visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus. pic.twitter.com/DFnwfcUeNO
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) April 18, 2023

The Saudi Foreign Minister pointed out that the next stage requires that the relationship between Syria and the Arab countries return to its peaceful state.

Our correspondent added that bin Farhan will hand Al-Assad an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia, adding that the visit is expected to take place after Eid Al-Fitr.

The visit took place less than a week after Mekdad visited Saudi Arabia, also on the first such trip since the outbreak of the war on Syria.