Russia, Egyptian foreign ministers assert the need to reach solution to the crisis in Syria based on respecting its sovereignty

MOSCOW, (ST)_ Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated that terrorist groups in Syria’s Idlib continue their attacks and they must be completely eliminated. 

 

His remarks came during a joint press conference held with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Moscow. 

 

Lavrov asserted the need to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria based on respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with the UN resolution No. 2254. 

 

He rejected the attempts of politicizing the file of delivering humanitarian aid to Syria. 

 

“We expressed our concern over the continuity of the presence of terrorist groups in Idlib, a d our goal is to eliminate them completely. We abide by this policy,” Lavrov said. 

 

As for the presence of foreign forces in Syria, Lavrov clarified that these forces have no right to be in Syria because they have not been invited by the Syrian government. 

 

For his part, the Egyptian minister said that his country considers Syria as part and parcel of the Arab national security, stressing the need to reach a solution to the crisis. 

 

“Historically, the Egyptian-Syrian relations are very important at bilateral level and they are the main base of cooperation and coordination to preserve the Arab national security,” Shoukry stated.

 

He added that Egypt supports the achievement of stability and security in Syria and calls on all those who breached Syria’s sovereignty to leave it, affirming his country’s support for preserving the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Syria. 

 

Basma Qaddour