Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri confirmed Egypt's full support for efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement to the Syrian crisis as soon as possible, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This came during the reception of Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Maqdad in Cairo on Saturday, marking the first visit of its kind in nearly 12 years and serving as the latest indication of improving relations between Arab countries and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
After arriving in Cairo, Minister Maqdad held a bilateral meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri, followed by an extensive discussion session at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry chaired by the two ministers. They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and various developments in the region and the world.
Shukri expressed Egypt's support for the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Syria related to achieving national consensus among the Syrian brothers, building trust, and continuing meetings of the Syrian constitutional committee. During the meeting, Shukri noted that a comprehensive political settlement to the Syrian crisis would put an end to external interventions in Syrian affairs, ensure the complete restoration of Syria's security and stability, uphold its territorial integrity and sovereignty, protect the people's resources, eliminate all forms of terrorism and terrorist organizations without exception, and enable the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees. This would alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and end their prolonged crisis, enhancing stability and development in the Arab homeland and the region.
For his part, Minister Maqdad conveyed Syria's appreciation for Egypt's supportive role throughout the years of the crisis, thanking Egypt for the humanitarian relief assistance provided following the earthquake, and expressing his hope for increased Arab solidarity with Syria in the upcoming phase to help it overcome its crisis and fulfill its historical role in supporting the issues of its Arab nation.
Additionally, Maqdad reviewed various aspects of the Syrian crisis, including the economic, humanitarian, and security challenges faced by the Syrian people.
In turn, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zaid, stated that the visit included a closed bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries, followed by extensive talks involving Egyptian and Syrian delegations. They addressed various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to promote and enhance them for the benefit and interest of both brotherly peoples, as well as several regional and international issues of common concern. The ambassador noted that both ministers agreed to intensify communication channels between the two countries at various levels in the upcoming phase to address issues and topics that concern the interests of the Egyptian and Syrian peoples.
