Significance of Syrian foreign minister's visit to Egypt

International and regional efforts to return Syria to its Arab surroundings are still ongoing, and the latest developments included the visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad on April 1 to Egypt. The visit was the first by a Syrian foreign minister in 12 years, which confirms the readiness of the countries of the Arab region to resolve the Syrian crisis, which has entered its twelfth year, and to provide the necessary support to the Syrian people to face the worsening economic and living crises they are witnessing.

It should be noted that during his visit, Mekdad held talks with his Egyptian counterpart on supporting cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, in addition to discussing the most important developments of common interest in the countries of the region and the world.

Significance of the timing

This visit came in conjunction with a number of developments, most notably the approach of the Arab Summit to be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in May, as well as the moves of some regional countries seeking to return Syria to the Arab League after suspending its membership in 2011. The UAE is at the forefront of these countries seeking to move forward with this step, and it was the first Arab country to host Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who made his second visit to the UAE on March 19.

It also came after a visit by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Syria on February 24, which was the first visit of its kind by an Egyptian foreign minister to the Syrian territories in more than ten years. Shoukry’s visit came after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake that hit eastern Syria, with the aim of confirming Egypt’s support for Syria in any crises it faces, in conjunction with the visit of a delegation from the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) to Damascus for the first time since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis.

The visit also came within the framework of the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Syria to restore diplomatic relations during the coming period after a ten-year rupture, which came after the Kingdom restored its diplomatic relations with Iran in early March under Chinese sponsorship following a seven-year rupture.

In light of the foregoing, it can be said that Syria is well aware of the importance of the Egyptian role, and what Cairo, led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, can offer in resolving the Syrian crisis, reaching a political settlement that leads to an end to the crisis, and support for the Syrian people.

Regarding Mekdad's visit to Cairo, Dr. Mohamed Sadiq Ismail, director of the Arab Center for Political Studies, explained that this visit is a good beginning for the return of interactions between Egypt and Syria, as well as between Syria and other Arab countries, as Damascus is one of the most important pillars of Arab national security. Therefore, ensuring its stability and security will reflect positively on the stability of the countries of the Arab region.

Ismail added in an exclusive statement to the Reference that the vacancy of the Syrian seat was a grave mistake, because the countries of the region must bear in mind that the issue of choosing the president belongs to the people alone, especially since Syria’s estrangement from its Arab surroundings resulted in destabilizing Arab national security and even contributed to the entry of foreign parties into Syrian lands. On the other hand, the countries of the region should take advantage of the current timing and work to put in place steps that contribute to the integration of Syria, as well as provide political solutions to settle the crisis.