If the rebel forces that overthrew Syria’s regime start fighting among themselves, this small but influential country may step in to mediate, a top official here indicated Tuesday.
“We never say no,” Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said in an interview in his office in Doha when asked about the possibility.
Al-Ansari confirmed that Qatari officials are already in contact with groups in Syria, though he declined to name which ones. “We are in touch with all the relevant parties on the ground,” he said. His comments come after Reuters reported Monday that Qatar is in touch with the leading rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Qatar, an energy-rich Gulf Arab country, has a long history of acting as a go-between for feuding parties, including Israel and Hamas as they fight in Gaza. Serving as an intermediary in Syria could make Qatar an even more important partner for the United States, which often turns to it for help in dealing with adversaries.
During a Tuesday briefing with reporters, Al-Ansari declined to comment directly on President-elect Donald Trump’s stated aversion to U.S. involvement in Syria. He said, however, that Qatar is in touch with the Biden administration and the Trump transition team about the best approach to take to the war-torn country.
While Al-Ansari wouldn’t rule out a future mediation role if Syrian rebel groups turn on each other, he stressed that Qatar is urging the insurgent forces to cooperate for the sake of their country.
“It’s sovereignty, the unity, the integrity of the national institutions and the rights of all Syrians together, and the inclusivity — these are the messages we are sending to them right now, and we are getting very positive feedback,” Al-Ansari said in the interview.
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