UN Envoy Pedersen arrives in Cairo within regional tour

CAIRO – 27 January 2019: New United Nations envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen landed in Cairo for a three-day visit as part of a regional tour to the Middle East.

Pedersen is set to discuss with officials the latest developments in Syria and efforts to reach a final political solution to the conflict.

Informed sources said that he will meet with senior officials including Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Arab League members, and members of the Cairo platform of the Syrian opposition.

The UN Envoy will fly to Lebanon on Thursday.

During his visit, Geir met with Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit as they reviewed the organization’s stances regarding the Syrian crisis.

Abul Gheit's spokesperson Mahmoud Afifi said in a statement that Pedersen highlighted the importance of reaching a peaceful solution that caters for the Syrian people's aspirations.

For his part, Abul Gheit urged halting international and regional interference that negatively affects peace efforts in Syria.

The UN envoy reviewed the contacts which he held with the parties concerned with the Syrian crisis.

Earlier this week, the envoy had held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

On Monday, he met in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, stressing the need to implement Security Council resolution 2254 to ensure the safe return of refugees to their homes.

Pedersen had kicked off his duties last week as a successor to Staffan de Mistura who stepped down last November by holding talks with Syrian officials in Damascus.