Oman: Syrian mediation

Talks in Damascus on 26 October have underlined Oman’s status as the most practised of Gulf Co-operation Council states in acting as a back channel and mediator. Sultan Qaboos’ veteran aide, foreign minister Yusuf Bin Alawi, held talks with President Bashar Al-Assad, which Syrian state news agency Sana said “discussed ideas that have been put forward to address the Syrian crisis”. It followed Assad’s visit to Moscow.