Egypt looks forward to reinstating cooperation with Syria

CAIRO – 9 September 2024:  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said that Egypt is looking forward to reinstating the coordination and cooperation with Syria within the framework of the Arab League.

In a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Al-Miqdad in Cairo on September 9, Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s support for Syria against its challenges. Abdelatty also voiced Cairo’s rejection of any foreign interference in Syrian domestic affairs.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement that Abdelatty emphasized the need to activate the Arab Contact Committee on Syria.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of these efforts in helping Syria address its challenges and advance the interests of the Syrian people.

The Egyptian Minister added that Syria’s sovereignty and independence must be respected, affirming that finding a political settlement for the Syrian political turmoil is vital under international legitimacy.

The meeting also addressed the crisis in the Gaza Strip. Abdelatty underscored the need to persist in efforts to establish a ceasefire and end Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, as well as to prevent the conflict from spreading to other areas.

Additionally, Minister Al-Miqdad conveyed President Bashar Al-Assad's greetings and appreciation to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, acknowledging Egypt’s significant role in hosting and treating Syrian citizens as equal to Egyptians, Abu Zeid said.

The two sides also discussed preparations for the Arab Contact Committee on Syria meeting, emphasizing the shared commitment to achieving its objectives.

In May 2023, the Arab League welcomed back the Syrian government after more than a decade of suspension of its membership and agreed to form a ministerial contact committee to find a comprehensive solution to the Syrian crisis. In November 2011, the Arab League suspended its membership in Syria over its failure to stop bloodshed against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.