Egypt promoting ‘political settlement’ in Syria: FM

By Viola Fahmy

CAIRO

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry says his country is actively promoting a “political settlement” in war-weary Syria, according to a ministry statement.

Shoukry reportedly made the assertion at a “mini-summit” on Syria held in Brussels on Thursday.

“Egypt is exerting efforts to promote Syria’s political process, both through continuous contact with the conflict’s various parties and through intensive communication with Staffan de Mistura, the UN’s envoy to Syria,” Shoukry said, according to the statement.

Cairo, he added, “is actively working to foster a suitable environment in which to hold a first meeting of a constitution-drafting committee”.

Drawing up a new Syrian constitution, Shoukry said, is “essential for resuming peace talks”, which have been suspended for more than six months.

The foreign minister went on to stress that Egypt's stance on the years-long crisis was based on “the need to find a political solution in a manner that preserves Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Thursday’s meeting in Brussels was also attended by the foreign ministers of the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

It was the first time for Egypt to be invited to the mini-summit, which have been held intermittently since 2015.