Egypt to host historic talks on Syria crisis
- 11 years ago
Egypt will host talks with Iran and Turkey in an effort to reach a resolution to the conflict in Syria, says Iran's foreign minister.
He's part of an Iranian delegation, headed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in Cairo to attend an Islamic summit beginning Wednesday.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ALI AKBAR SALEHI, SAYING:
"I'm optimistic that a solution to the crisis can be found, a Syrian-Syrian solution, a peaceful solution due to the initiative of his Excellency President Mursi. And there will be a meeting - most probably today or tomorrow - among, Turkey, Egypt and Iran concerning Syria, god willing."
Ahmadinejad, who arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, is the first Iranian president to visit the Arab Republic since Tehran's 1979 Islamic revolution.
The trip is meant to underscore a thaw in relations since Egyptians elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
But it will also highlight deep theological and geopolitical differences - in particular, Iran's backing of the Syrian government.
Egypt's overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim population is broadly supportive of the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's Alawite-led administration.
He's part of an Iranian delegation, headed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in Cairo to attend an Islamic summit beginning Wednesday.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ALI AKBAR SALEHI, SAYING:
"I'm optimistic that a solution to the crisis can be found, a Syrian-Syrian solution, a peaceful solution due to the initiative of his Excellency President Mursi. And there will be a meeting - most probably today or tomorrow - among, Turkey, Egypt and Iran concerning Syria, god willing."
Ahmadinejad, who arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, is the first Iranian president to visit the Arab Republic since Tehran's 1979 Islamic revolution.
The trip is meant to underscore a thaw in relations since Egyptians elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
But it will also highlight deep theological and geopolitical differences - in particular, Iran's backing of the Syrian government.
Egypt's overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim population is broadly supportive of the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's Alawite-led administration.