CAIRO (Arab News) – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has stressed the need to end the political stalemate in the Syria.
In a phone call with UN envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, Shoukry emphasized the need for a comprehensive settlement that ensures Syria’s sovereignty over all its territory, in a manner that preserves the independence of its political decisions.
He also stressed the need to give priority to Syria’s national interests over those of the various parties involved in the crisis.
Pedersen briefed Shoukry on efforts to reach a political settlement, and expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s role in this regard.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Zionist regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.
The phone conversation between Shoukry and Pedersen comes amid Arab diplomatic moves to reinstate Syria to the Arab League.
Egypt has recently put forward an initiative to facilitate Syria’s return to the 22-member regional organization.
Speaking at a press conference alongside his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in Muscat on January 23, Shoukry said, “We hope that conditions will be available for Syria to return to the Arab domain and become an element supporting Arab national security. We will continue to communicate with Arab countries to achieve this purpose.”
Egypt reportedly chose to launch its initiative from Oman because it is one of the most prominent Persian Gulf countries that enjoys close relations with the Syrian government.
In July 2021, Albusaidi told the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that his country supports Syria’s return to the Arab League.
On May 31, 2021, Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was the first Persian Gulf leader to congratulate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his re-election as president of Syria.
The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in November 2011, citing an alleged crackdown by Damascus on opposition protests. Syria has denounced the move as “illegal and a violation of the organization’s charter.”