20 March 2019•Update: 20 March 2019
MUSCAT
Egypt has no conditions for restoring Syria’s membership in the Arab League, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Wednesday.
“Cairo and Damascus have strong relations,” said Shoukry, responding to a question during a visit to Oman, according to the official Omani News Agency.
However, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry later said Shoukry’s statement had only been partially reported by the news agency.
The ministry said reports had neglected what Shoukry said on the importance of the Syrian government’s interaction with the political process in Geneva and the efforts of the UN envoy to Syria.
This interaction will contribute to endeavors to restore Syria's stability and territorial integrity so as to consider Syria’s return to the Arab League, it added.
Oman’s news agency has yet to report on the ministry statement.
Syria's membership in the Cairo-based league has been suspended since 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime launched a harsh crackdown on pro-democracy protests, sparking eight years of civil war.
Last month, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit said there was no consensus among member states on Syria’s return to the pan-Arab body.
