Egyptian-Syrian FMs Hold Closed-Door Talks in Cairo

On Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a closed-door meeting here with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Al-Mikdad, who is paying the first visit by a top Syrian diplomat to Egypt in over a decade.

On his Twitter account, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received his Syrian counterpart Faisal Al-Mikdad at the ministry's premises. 

Al-Mikdad was embraced by Sameh Shoukry as he arrived at the Egyptian foreign ministry, the first official trip since before the uprising and conflict that began in Syria in 2011.

An Egyptian security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the visit was aimed at putting in place steps for Syria's return to the Arab League through Egyptian and Saudi Arabian mediation.

The Cairo-based Arab League suspended Syria's membership in 2011 and many Arab states pulled their envoys out of Damascus.

Egypt's foreign ministry published pictures of the two ministers in a closed meeting before a wider discussion.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the talks were aimed at strengthening relations between the two states.

Egypt's Shoukry visited Syria and Turkey in February after the devastating earthquakes there.