Egypt's FM Heads to Quake-Hit Syria, Turkey for First Time in Decade

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry will head on Monday morning to both Syria and Turkey to extend a message of solidarity from Egypt to the Syrian and Turkish people after the devastating earthquake that hit the two states early in February. 

Shoukry is set to stress that Egypt is always ready to aid those affected by the quake in both countries and that Egypt at both the official and grass-roots level cannot fail to stand by its brothers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement today.

Shoukry’s trip is simultaneous with Speaker of Egypt's House of Representatives Hanafy El-Gebaly’s visit to Damascus upon the resolution of the 34th conference of the Arab Parliamentary Union (APU) which was held in Baghdad, Iraq, on Saturday.

El-Gebaly is the first Egyptian high-level official to visit Syria since the turbulent events in 2011.

The Egyptian speaker and other Arab speakers also met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

"The visit comes to show solidarity with the Syrian people and express support after the disastrous earthquake which hit the country on 6 February," El-Gebaly said during the visit.

"Egypt in particular has historic relations with Syria, and I am here in Damascus to convey a message that we all support the great and steadfast Syrian people and wish them all prosperity and welfare," said El-Gebaly.

Since the quake took place, Egypt has sent many supply planes and ships carrying hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid to Turkey and Syria in a message of support to both countries.

Shortly after the quake, Egypt sent to Syria a rescue team of medical specialists and rescue technicians alongside the medical aid.