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Syrian President Invited to Attend UN climate summit in Dubai later this yearraising questions about whether Britain will attend.
On Monday, Bashar al-Assad was invited by the government of the United Arab Emirates to a global summit for the first time since the outbreak of the war in Syria in 2011.
Western leaders have imposed sanctions on Syria over its civil war and its government’s treatment of civilians.
Syria is Invited back to the Arab League earlier this monthbut both the U.S. and Britain said they remained opposed to direct links with Damascus.
The British government declined to answer when asked whether it would still attend the Dubai summit.
“Assad continues to torture and kill innocent Syrians”
However, a source pointed to comments made by Foreign Minister Lord Ahmad last week.
“The UK remains opposed to engaging with the Assad regime. Bashar al-Assad continues to detain, torture and kill innocent Syrians with no signs of behavioral change towards his own people,” he said in a statement. tweeted.
“Syria should be engaged in the UN political process, which remains the only way to achieve a lasting and sustainable peace in Syria. Those responsible for human rights violations and violations must also be held accountable.”
Since the start of the Syrian war, Assad has retained power and regained lost ground with vital support from Iran and Russia.
Assad also invited to Saudi Arabia summit
Assad has also received an invitation to attend an Arab summit scheduled for Friday in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE re-established ties with Syria in 2018 and has been at the forefront of recent operations Bringing Damascus back into Arabia.
In March last year, Assad visited the UAE, his first official visit to an Arab country since the war broke out in 2011, and again this year.
A landmark rapprochement was reached in March between Saudi Arabia and Iran following a rise in regional engagement with Damascus following deadly earthquakes in Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6.
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