Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty was in Riyadh yesterday to take part in an expanded Arab ministerial meeting focussed on Syria, according to a ministry statement.

Egypt hammered down on its key messages, with Abdelatty emphasizing Egypt’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and calling for an inclusive political process that reflects Syria’s social, religious, and ethnic diversity — key issues that have been at the heart of Egypt’s diplomatic efforts since Bashar Al Assad’s ouster in early December. He also stressed the importance of regional cooperation in combating terrorism and preventing Syria from becoming a haven for terrorist groups.

Abdelatty also denounced Israel’s incursion into its buffer zone with Syria and its occupation of Syrian territories in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. The minister also called out Israel’s airstrikes on Syrian military infrastructure and capabilities.

On the sidelines of the meetings, Abdelatty met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. The meetings covered bilateral relations and regional developments, including the situation in Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, and the Horn of Africa, with all sides emphasizing the importance of supporting Syria’s stability and territorial integrity.

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