Sisi discusses Syrian crisis with Macron over phone

CAIRO – 21 April 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday to discuss the Syrian crisis, Sisi’s office said in a statement.

According to the statement, Macron addressed the military strike that France, the United States and Britain launched in Syria a week ago, pointing out that it comes within the framework of international legitimacy.

The three countries launched 105 missiles in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Syria, targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities, according to Reuters.

The Egyptian leader expressed his concern over the military escalation in Syria, which would lead to “further deterioration and complexity of the situation.

Sisi also emphasized Egypt’s unyielding position that rejects the use of any internationally prohibited weapons on Syrian territories, the statement said. “the importance of conducting a transparent international investigation on the issue,” he added.

Macron had instructed French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to visit Egypt by the end of this month to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations, the statement added.