Egypt, Syria: Strong relations bonded by history and culture

• Shoukry: Egypt has offered more than 1,500 tons of aid to Syria after the devastating earthquake.
• Syrian President thanks ‘Egypt and its great people for hosting the Syrian refugees and treating them as brothers’.

CAIRO – 27 February 2023:   Egypt and Syria have always shared a long historical and strong relations that were bonded with politics, economy, social life and culture.

The two countries even witnessed a political well-known unity that was established in 1958.

That strong political ties that resulted in the establishment of the ‘United Arab Republic’ was just a link in a long and continuous chain that formed a historical bond which links Egypt and Syria and creates features and interactions between the two countries.

Political steps

Over the years, President Abdel Fattah al Sisi affirmed Egypt’s strong stance towards Syria which was, protecting the unity and sovereignty of the Syrian state, and reject any external interference.

In 2017, Cairo hosted several meetings for the Syrian parties to discuss a political settlement to the crisis.

In its final statement, the Syrian political forces thanked to Egypt and President Sisi on the efforts made to solve the Syrian crisis, stop the bloodshed of the Syrian people, and emphasize the unity of the Syrian territories.

During his Monday visit to Syria, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry considered that the Syrian-Egyptian relationship is an ‘essential pillar’ in protecting the Arab countries, stressing that Egypt will always be with everything that can help and support Syria, and will move forward in everything that would serve the interests of the brotherly Syrian people.

 

Shoukry referred to the bonds between the Syrian and Egyptian peoples, and pointed out that the Syrians residing in Egypt showed a great ability to adapt to Egyptian society, and achieved great success in their work in various fields.

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Faisal Al-Miqdad, discussed with Minister Shoukry the existing cooperation relations between the Syria and Egypt, and ways to enhance them.

Shoukry embarked on a tour of Syria and Turkey with the aim of conveying Egypt's solidarity message with both countries which were hit by a devastating quake on February 6.

Shoukry arrived in Damascus where he was received by Syrian counterpart Faisal al Meqdad.

The two top diplomats held bilateral talks, according to spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid.

 

Al Asad thanks Egypt

Shoukry also meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, as he expressed his happiness visiting Syria.

Shoukry conveyed a message of solidarity from President Abdel Fattah al Sisi to the Syrian president to confirm solidarity with Syria and Egypt’s readiness to continue its support to face the effects of the earthquake, Syrian News Agency, SANA reported.

Shoukry pointed out that both of the Syrian and Egyptian people have humanitarian and historical ties, adding: “We are here to support our brothers in Syria, and our coordination with the Syrian government started since the first days of the earthquake.”

Shoukry affirmed, that Egypt provided more than 1,500 tons of aid to Syria after the devastating earthquake.

 

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Al- Meqdad, confirmed in a press statement that Egypt's leadership and people played a major role in facing the catastrophic consequences of the earthquake, adding: “When Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs comes to Damascus, he comes to his family and his country.”

Syrian President Bashar al Assad has greatly appreciated President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's telephone call after the earthquake that hit Syria on February 6.

During meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, al-Assad thanked ‘Egypt and its great people for hosting the Syrian refugees and treating them as brothers’, Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid tweeted.

According to latest statistic published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Egypt, nearly 146,049 Syrian refugees are living in Egypt.

President Sisi said more once that Egypt welcomed Syrians to live withing the society as ‘dear guests’ who are living among us as citizens. ‘no one sees refugee camps in Egypt, because we don’t have such a thing’.

In September 2021, President Sisi said that Egypt hosts more than five million refugees from different nationalities from all around that world and never thought of building a refugee camps, as all refuges are receiving same services as Egyptians themselves.  

The earthquake aids

Since the first day of the earthquake on February 6, Egypt has been keen on sending ships and plans full of hundreds of tons of aid to help the Syrian people and support them.

On February 7, the Spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency, Ahmed Fahmy, stated that President al Sisi phoned his Syrian counterpart and expressed his sincere condolences over the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit the country, wishing the injured a quick recovery.

President Sisi reiterated Egypt’s solidarity with Syria and its brotherly people in this calamity. He also directed that all possible aid be provided to Syria.

The President of Syria, for his part, expressed his appreciation to President El-Sisi for his kind gesture, stressing Syria’s pride in the historical and fraternal relations between the two countries.

Also, per president Sisi directions, a ship loaded with hundreds of tons of relief materials departed Al-Arish port Friday, heading to Turkey and Syria.

The aid ship came as part of the Egyptian efforts to help deal with the consequences of devastating earthquake that hit southern Turkey and Syria on Feb. 16, leaving more than 48,000 people dead.

On Thursday, Egypt sent two military planes carrying medical and humanitarian aid to Turkey for the victims of the deadly 7.8-and-7.4 magnitude earthquakes.

Two military planes took off from East Cairo Air Base, heading to Turkey, carrying large quantities medicines and medical supplies provided by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Defense announced in a statement.

Meanwhile, an Egyptian ship of the naval forces carrying humanitarian aid has arrived to both Turkey and Syria, in accordance with directives given by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Earlier in February, the president ordered dispatching five military planes to deliver urgent medical relief supplies to earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey. In the former, Egypt also sent the first international team providing support to the Turkey-Syria earthquake victims.

Further, an Egyptian ship loaded with about 500 tons of relief materials arrived in Syria's Lattakia Port on Monday to help deal with earthquake effects and support relief efforts. The cargo was intended to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).