In this photo provided by the Tunisian Presidency, Tunisian President Kais Saied, right, shakes hand with Syrian President Bashar Assad, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during the Arab summit, Friday, May 19, 2023. (Slim Abid/Tunisian Presidency via AP)In this photo provided by the Tunisian Presidency, Tunisian President Kais Saied, right, shakes hand with Syrian President Bashar Assad, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during the Arab summit, Friday, May 19, 2023. (Slim Abid/Tunisian Presidency via AP)JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Smiles, a handshake and what Tunisian President Kais Saied called a “historic meeting” with the long-ostracized Syrian leader Bashar Assad. Tunisia resumed diplomatic relations with Syria in April, and Assad’s presence at the Arab League summit sealed Syria’s return to the club of Arab nations. Assad was invited to the residence where the Tunisian president was staying in Jeddah, the Saudi Arabian city hosting the summit.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 19, 2023 15:42 UTC