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Political settlement to Syria crisis must guarantee Damascus full sovereignty, says Egyptian FM

Tuesday, 22 February 2022 6:50 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 22 February 2022 7:13 AM ]

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (File photo by Reuters)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry says a political settlement to the ongoing foreign-sponsored Syrian conflict must guarantee the Damascus government’s full sovereignty over all areas in the war-ravaged Arab country.

Shoukry made the remarks in a telephone conversation with the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Monday evening.

The top Egyptian diplomat reiterated Cairo’s position that the devastating crisis in Syria can only be resolved by concentrating on political solutions.

Shoukry also stressed the need for a comprehensive settlement of the crisis, in a way that guarantees the Damascus government’s sovereignty over all territories in the country and preserves the independence of its political decisions.

For his part, Pedersen briefed the Egyptian foreign minister on the proceeding attempts to secure a political settlement to the Syrian crisis and appreciated Egypt’s efforts in this regard.

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Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.

The phone conversation between Shoukry and Pedersen comes amid Arab diplomatic moves to reinstate Syria to the Arab League.

Egypt has recently put forward an initiative to facilitate Syria’s return to the 22-member regional organization.

Speaking at a press conference alongside his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in Muscat on January 23, Shoukry said, “We hope that conditions will be available for Syria to return to the Arab domain and become an element supporting Arab national security. We will continue to communicate with Arab countries to achieve this purpose.”

Egypt reportedly chose to launch its initiative from Oman because it is one of the most prominent Persian Gulf countries that enjoys close relations with the Syrian government.

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The Algerian president says Syria must return to the Arab League in order for Arabs to unify again.

In July 2021, Albusaidi told the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that his country supports Syria’s return to the Arab League.

On May 31, 2021, Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was the first Persian Gulf leader to congratulate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his re-election as president of Syria.

The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in November 2011, citing an alleged crackdown by Damascus on opposition protests. Syria has denounced the move as “illegal and a violation of the organization’s charter.”

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