Syria-Saudi spat looms over talks

Saudi Arabia is showing increasing signs of displeasure as Palestinian-Israeli preparatory discussions on a US-hosted multinational peace conference in November meander on without apparent achievements.

According to Agence France Presse (AFP) Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal warned Wednesday, “If this conference does not tackle the key issues such as Jerusalem, the borders, the Palestinians and other issues that were clearly stated in the Arab peace initiative, then the conference will be pointless.”

With time running out for the establishment of a firm basis for the conference, a deepening crisis in relations between Syria and the Saudis is throwing a pall over the upcoming discussions and Lebanese presidential vote.

Frosty relations

Fraught Syrian-Saudi relations plumbed new lows this week with the announcement Tuesday that a scheduled visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem to Riyadh had been called off.

Al-Mouallem was scheduled to meet Saudi King Abdullah II and other Saudi officials during a visit designed to ease tensions between the two regional powers in the wake of a public falling out last month.

Ties between Syria and the Saudis have been troubled for some time, with the kingdom feeling that its role in seeking to reconcile Lebanese and Palestinian factions has been undermined by Damascus.

Nadim Shehadi from the UK-based think tank Chatham House told ISN Security Watch , "There has been a break in Saudi-Syrian relations for two years, which were sort of restored during the Arab [League] summit in March when President Assad was invited to Riyadh."

Relations were subsequently severed again after Syria dallied in presenting to the Saudis its objections concerning the establishment of an international tribunal to try those held responsible for the murder of former Lebanese premier Rafik al-Hariri, Shehadi explained.

The resultant tensions broke open in August with an acerbic diplomatic exchange. After former Syrian foreign minister Farouq al-Shara mocked the Saudis, saying their regional role was "virtually paralyzed, Reuters quoted an unnamed Saudi official as saying that Riyadh had noted Shara's "numerous lies and fallacies aimed at harming us."

"The announcement of the visit by Mouallem to Saudi Arabia was seen as a good sign, which meant that there had been an agreement on the Lebanese presidency," Shehadi said. "The answer from Damascus must have been unclear again and so the visit was cut."

Relating to Syrian media interpretations of the cancellation, he added: "The Syrian media is saying that there is an internal split within the Saudi leadership about how to deal with Syria and that this is related to all the 'files': like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine […] and the hottest issue is the George Bush peace conference to which the Syrians have not been invited."

Regional rivalry

Both Syria and Saudi Arabia are deeply involved in Iraq, where the correspondence or dissonance between their interests are far from clear, despite Syria's close relationship with Iran.

Asked if there are differences between the Saudis and Syrians over Iraq, a source close to the situation told ISN Security Watch on the condition of anonymity, "Probably, but it is harder to say because neither of them has very transparent policies […] To the extent that Syria has a relationship with Iran it creates a problem for Saudi Arabia, but it doesn't seem that in Iraq Syria has been backing the same parties as Iran."

Referring to the Saudis, Shehadi said, "They have a lot at stake in Iraq, especially vis-à-vis Iranian influence and vis-à-vis what future shape Iraq could take, and their border."

Despite giving its rhetorical support, Syria likely saw the Saudi sponsorship of the February 2007 Mecca Accords as a threat to its influence in the Palestinian territories given the acquiescence