Tunisian FM discusses restoring ties with Syrian counterpart

Tunisia's Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar has discussed restoring relations with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Miqdad in a telephone call on Saturday, according to a report by the Syrian state news agency.

Ammar said his country was looking to upgrade diplomatic representation, echoing previous remarks he made last month.

In the phone call, Syria's Miqdad praised Tunisian President Kais Saied for his willingness to upgrade ties between both countries.

Saied - who has taken sweeping measures in Tunisia since July 2021, expanding his powers at the expense of elected institutions - had previously likened Syrian and Tunisian "achievements" with one another, stating the "brotherly" countries share "common goals".

Tunis severed its relations with Damascus in 2012, in line with other Arab states in the region, over Assad's violent crackdown on an uprising against his rule. The Syrian regime's ambassador was expelled from Tunisia at the time.

Tunisia's moves towards restoring relations came after Tunis expressed solidarity with Damascus following the devastating 6 February earthquake that hit Syria's north-west region.

The devastating natural disaster has served as grounds for some states, including the UAE, Iraq and Egypt, to accelerate the restoration of ties with the Syrian regime.