Egypt’s foreign minister visits Damascus for the first time since the start of the Syrian revolution in 2011
Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry arrived in Damascus on Monday in the first visit since the start of the Syrian revolution against the Assad regime in 2011.
The visit of the Egyptian foreign minister is to emphasize his country’s solidarity with Syria facing the devastating earthquake that hit Syria on November 6, according to pro-Assad regime news agency.
The Assad regime foreign minister Faisal al-Mekdad welcomed his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry at Damascus International Airport, according to “SANA” news agency.
Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement, “Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is heading to Syria and Turkey, for the first time in a decade, after Cairo severed ties with both countries.”
The statement made it clear that Shoukry will visit Syria and Turkey to convey a message of solidarity from Egypt with the two countries and their two brotherly peoples after the earthquake disaster, and its readiness to provide aid and assistance to those affected in the afflicted areas, according to (AFP) news agency.
This is the first visit by Egypt’s foreign minister to Damascus since the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in 2011, due to Assad regime’s suppression of popular protests.
