DUBAI
The United Arab Emirates has invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the COP28 climate summit it is hosting at the end of the year, possibly placing him in the same venue as Western leaders who have opposed and sanctioned him for years.
The invitation was extended by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Syrian state news agency SANA reported after the UAE embassy in Damascus tweeted the same.
“COP28 is committed to an inclusive COP process that produces transformational solutions,” a COP28 spokesperson said in a statement. “This can only happen if we have everyone in the room.” Thousands of world leaders, diplomats and dignitaries are expected to attend the summit in Dubai in December. Fellow Arab states are warming to Syria again after isolating Assad for over a decade following his deadly crackdown on street protests that spiralled into a brutal civil war.
