Egyptian FM, UN Special Envoy for Syria discuss coordination on forming constitutional committee

CAIRO – 26 February 2024: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry met Monday with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pederson in Geneva to hold consultations on devising radical solutions to the Syrian crisis addressing all aspects of the issue.

Pederson presented the steps he had taken on the front of forming a constitutional committee as well as the outcomes of meetings held to coordinate among stakeholders.

Minister Shokry received in August a phone call from Pederson who wanted to learn about the outcomes of the meeting of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria that convened in Cairo on August 15.

The Egyptian minister presented the conclusions, asserting the committee's keenness on settling the Syrian crisis, handling all its aspects, with the aim of preserving Syria's unity and stability.

The minister met in May the UN special envoy for Syria in Geneva to discuss the gradual resolution of the crisis adopting the approach of a step for a step.

That is in alignment with the outcomes of Jeddah and Amman meetings, which included a number of Arab foreign ministers, as well as the last Arab Summit and Security Council's resolution no. 2254.

The minister stressed the importance of the Arab role in resolving such prolonged crisis that is still a source of suffering to the Syrian people, and the region. He also asserted the priority Egypt was giving to continuous coordination between the Arab ministerial committee concerned with Syria, and the special envoy to Syria to ensure the integration of efforts.

On his side, the envoy expressed keenness on working with the Arab committee to push forward the solution in the framework of a step for a step, expressing appreciation for the continuous communication between Egypt and the United Nations.