He was received at Damascus International Airport by Sharaa, leading a senior delegation that included the defence and foreign ministers. Unlike other Arab countries, Qatar did not restore diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad and was one of the first to back the armed rebellion that erupted after the Damascus government crushed a peaceful uprising in Analysts see Doha as keen to move quickly and back Sharaa amid regional and international hesitation to fully support the new rulers in Damascus considering their ideological background.
Doha appears to be in full agreement with Ankara as to the policies to be pursued in Syria and avoids any signs of overt competition for influence there. It has urged the lifting of sanctions. Qatari and Syrian officials discussed a comprehensive framework for post-war reconstruction in Syria, Shibani said. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Damascus earlier in January, and said natural gas-rich Qatar would supply Syria with megawatts of electricity, which would be gradually increased.
Qatar said in December it would reopen its embassy in Damascus after a more than year closure. Sharaa, said on Thursday he will form an inclusive transitional government representing diverse communities that will build institutions and run the country until it can hold free and fair elections.
He announced his intention to form a small legislative body to fill the parliamentary void until new elections were held, after the Syrian parliament was dissolved on Wednesday.
He said he would also in the coming days announce the formation of a committee that would prepare to hold a national dialogue conference that would be a platform for Syrians to discuss the future political programme of the nation.
