EGYPTIAN FM CALLS FOR ACCELERATING POLITICAL SOLUTION IN SYRIA

New York, 18 Dhul Qai’da 1434/24 September 2013 (MINA)- Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi expressed his hope to accelerate holding of the international conference on Syria in order to reach a political solution, though he said he did not see a solution was close.

“The crisis in Syria has become a geopolitical issue…therefore the collapse of the Syrian state, if we got to that degree of tragedy, would have an impact in and beyond the East and in the gulf, as it may extend even to the Egyptian interests,” he said, Sana agency reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

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Fahmi also cautioned that any attempt to divide Syria would mean “dividing the entire Middle East in a similar way to the first Sykes-Picot”.

He also underscored that Syria is facing “fighters” who have mostly come from abroad, describing this as an “dilemma”.

In a press statement issued Tuesday, Fahmi warned of the dangerous repercussions for the entire region in the event of the downfall of the Syrian state, if it happened.

“I don’t see a quick solution to the situation in Syria…I don’t see a solution without a big deal. Therefore, this is going to take time,” the Egyptian Foreign Minister said.

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He added that the big deal needs many balances and includes many parties, noting that the past few weeks have shown that the international parties have favored their priorities over those of the regional states.

On the Egyptian-U.S. relations, Fahmi stressed that these relations are “troubled”, noting that the Egyptian public opinion about the US is leaning towards negativity more than ever before questioning the real role of the US towards what happened and is happening in Egypt.

He stressed that any foreign aid would not affect the identity of the Egyptian state, noting that he told his U.S. counterpart John Kerry that “the Egyptian decision will not be affected by the U.S. aid”.

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As for Egypt’s relationship with Turkey, Fahmi said the Egyptian leadership is under a great popular pressure to cut off the ties with Ankara over its negative position regarding the events in Egypt.(T/P04/P03)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)