Diplomat to run business at embassy in Damascus

AMMAN — Jordan has appointed a diplomat as an acting chargé d'affaires at its embassy in Damascus.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah, who did not name the official, said in a statement that the decision is “consistent with Jordan’s position since the crisis in Syria erupted in 2011 to keep the embassy in Damascus operational”.

Syria also kept its mission in Amman open, and run by a chargé d'affaires, while the two countries have recently reopened the Jaber-Nassib border crossing, after three years of closure, to facilitate the return of trade flow to pre-2011 levels. 

Jordan’s private sector is keen on participating in reconstruction of Syria projects, and there have been signs that Damascus welcomes this contribution, according to construction contracting sector leaders who have met their peers in Syria this week.