Lavrov to visit Saudi Arabia as Assad foes lose heart

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to pay a working visit to Saudi Arabia, the latest country long at odds over Syria which seems to be coming to terms with President Bashar al-Assad at the helm.

Lavrov will be visiting Saudi Arabia and Jordan during September 9-11, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. He will be received by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Jeddah and will have talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

The Saudis hosted a meeting of Syrian opposition factions last month, pushing for an accord between the main anti-Assad group that Riyadh has backed, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), and two other blocs closer to Moscow.

A Saudi shift would mark a fresh blow to militants who have seen Assad regain control of much of the country in the past two years.

Lavrov was in the Persian Gulf last week for a tour that included a stop in Qatar, another major backer of the militants. He said that while differences remain, there’s overall interest in ending the war.

SS