Bin Farhan Al Saud’s statements at the Munich security conference differ significantly from the country’s views on Syria 12 years earlier. Still, consensus is growing, he says. ‘And not just in the GCC (Gulf Cooperative Commission, ed), but throughout the Arab world. We believe that the current status quo is not working”.
As there is no path to a political solution due to the lack of a plan, a different approach is now being formulated to address the problems surrounding Syrian refugees in neighboring states and the suffering of civilians. An issue all the more urgent in light of the devastating earthquakes that recently hit Syria and Turkey.
Dialogue with Damascus
The new approach includes opening a dialogue with the Syrian government in Damascus, focusing on resolving the most pressing issues. “Or: the humanitarian situation and the return of refugees,” says Bin Farhan Al Saud.