Saudi, Egypt have ‘similar’ stance on Syria
Saudi FM said international talks to find a solution on Syria had yielded some progress but more consultations were required
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubair said on Sunday both Cairo and Riyadh have a “similar” stance on Syria during his visit to Egypt, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
In a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Jubair reiterated Saudi stance that there is “no place” for embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a future and post-civil war Syria.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said there were “no differences” between Riyadh and Cairo on Syria and emphasized that they both have a “similar” position.
Jubair's statement comes after his comments on Thursday saying that Assad's clinging to power is working as a “magnet” by allowing foreign militants to recruit more fighters, and he must go to rid Syria of ISIS.
Meanwhile, the foreign minister said international talks to find a solution to the conflict in Syria had yielded some progress but more consultations were required.
“I believe that there has been some progress and positions have moved closer on finding a solution to the Syrian crisis, but I cannot say that we have reached an agreement. We still need more consultations ... to reach this point," he told a news conference in Cairo after meeting his Egyptian counterpart.
Moscow says Assad must be part of any political transition and that the Syrian people will decide who rules them.
Washington has said it could tolerate Assad during a short transition period, but that he would then have to then exit the political stage.
In a flurry of diplomatic activity around the Syria crisis, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Riyadh on Saturday and the two countries agreed to boost support for Syria’s moderate opposition while seeking a political resolution to the four-year-old conflict.
(With Reuters)
-
Saudi FM says to get rid of ISIS, Assad must go
Saudi Foreign Minister reiterated Riyadh’s stance and said Assad clinging to power is allowing more Islamists to spread in Syria Middle East -
Hollande: Russian intervention won’t save Assad
France’s Hollande said after an EU summit that Russia’s military intervention in Syria will not save President Bashar al-Assad Middle East -
Saudi FM: Assad has no role in future Syria
Reports -
Turkey ready to accept transition period for Assad
Two Turkish officials said Ankara is ready to accept six-month transition period for Syria’s Assad Middle East -
Syria's political opposition rejects transitional role for Assad
In an interview with Al Arabiya news a member of the Syrian National Coalition rejected any role for Bashar al-Assad in a transitional government, ... Reports -
Putin holds Assad in one hand, a Syria political bargain in another
At the first glance, Russia’s Vladimir Putin receiving Syria’s embattled President Bashar Al-Assad in Moscow looks no more than an act of ... Middle East -
Putin says Syria’s Assad open to working with some rebels
Putin also said ‘terrorists’ should not be divided into moderate and not moderate Middle East