Shoukry discusses Syria, Kurdistan with 16 FMs in NY City

CAIRO – 22 September 2017: Egypt’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met with his American, Canadian, Danish, French, German, Netherlands’, Norway’s, Qatari, Saudi, Swedish, Turkish, Emirati, British, European Union’s counterparts on Monday to discuss Syria and related issues.

Shoukry and 16 counterparts agreed that ‘a political solution’ is the only solution to the Syrian crisis with full implementation of UNSCR 2254, according to the U.S. Secretary of State statement released on Thursday.

The ministers reiterated their strong support for UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, UN-led efforts in Geneva, and strong and effective participation in meaningful negotiations by credible ‎representatives of the Syrian opposition, the statement read.

The ministers agreed that de-escalation zones and other ceasefire initiatives contribute to setting the foundation for a political solution. The ministers welcomed the progress achieved through the Astana process and in the separate process for southwest Syria negotiated by the United States, Jordan, and Russia, and in the process for eastern Ghouta and Northern Homs facilitated by Egypt and Russia.

The campaign against terrorist organization of so-called the Islamic State (IS) and efforts to defeat Al-Nusrah Front must be completed to ensure that these terrorist organizations retain no safe haven in Syria from which they can threaten the Syrian people, Syria's neighbors, and all of our homelands, the ministers agreed.

Shoukry and his counterparts called on the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) not to move forward with the scheduled September 25 referendum and embrace a process of genuine dialogue with Baghdad, stressing the integrity of Iraq and stability of Syria.