The Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed in a statement that Cairo’s position was ratified by the foreign minister during a telephone conversation with the UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen.

Shoukry defended Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty while stressing the importance of restoring security and stability to the country. He also urged an end to violence, terrorism and foreign interference in Syria.

Last week the officer received his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Al-Mekdad, to whom he reiterated Cairo’s full support for the efforts to reach a comprehensive political agreement on the Syrian crisis as soon as possible, according to an official statement.

The Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, Hanafy El-Gebaly, also arrived in Damascus to express their solidarity due to the damages caused by the most recent earthquakes.

El-Gabaly’s and Shoukry’s visits were the first of high-ranking Egyptian officers to Syria in more than 10 years.

jrr/llp/nmr/rob