UN Envoy Hopes to Work with Arab Ministerial Committee to Solve Syria Crisis

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen told on Sunday Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry that he looks forward to working with a ministerial committee formed by the Arab League to start a gradual approach to resolving the Syrian crisis.

Shoukry and Pedersen spoke on the phone four days ahead of the Arab League meeting in Saudi Arabia.

“The two sides stressed the need to take effective steps towards resolving the crisis in a step-by-step approach and in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

They also dealt with the formation of a ministerial committee with the membership of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States to follow up on the implementation of the Amman Declaration and to communicate directly with the Syrian government, it added.

During the phone call, Shoukry stressed “the role played currently by Arab countries to end the protracted crisis in Syria,” saying all parties, including the UN and its envoy, should work closely to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

Also, Pedersen met on Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran, Iran’s ISNA news agency said.

The two sides discussed “issues of common interest, including issues related to Syria,” it added.

On Saturday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a telephone call from Pedersen.

During the call, the two sides reviewed the efforts exerted by the Kingdom and the UN to develop a political solution that achieves stability and security in Syria and guarantees Syrian refugees a safe return home according to relevant international resolutions.

The two sides also discussed the latest regional and international developments and efforts to achieve international peace and security.

The Arab League has recently decided to reinstate Syria’s membership and to allow Damascus to attend the League meetings after its suspension more than 10 years ago.