In what appeared to be the culmination of months of reconciliation efforts, it was officially announced that Egypt and Syria have reestablished full diplomatic relations after a 12-year hiatus. The announcement came at the conclusion of Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Atif Sedki’s several-hour visit to Damascus, where he met with President Hafez Al-Assad and his Syrian counterpart, Eng. Mahmoud Al-Zoubi. The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted Sedki, prior to his departure from Damascus, stating that a meeting between Presidents Hafez al-Assad and Hosni Mubarak would take place in the first days of January.
Dr. Sedki arrived in Damascus in the morning for a brief visit, during which he held talks with President Hafez Al-Assad, who had sent a response letter to President Mubarak. Sedki also met with Syrian Vice President Mr. Abdel Halim Khaddam and discussed matters with his Syrian counterpart, Mr. Al-Zoubi.
Upon his departure from the Syrian capital, the Egyptian Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the short visit, stating that it exceeded his expectations. He remarked that President Hafez Al-Assad’s demeanor was friendly and warm towards Egypt. The president acknowledged the historical ties between the two countries and even referred to past complications as experiences to learn from for future cooperation and mutual dependence.
Sedki noted that President Assad emphasized the need to develop existing areas of cooperation for the better, without any sensitivities or prior restrictions. He mentioned that President Assad did not impose any limitations or restrictions, leaving the matter to be discussed further in the upcoming meeting with President Mubarak. Sedki mentioned a phrase used by President Assad, stating, “All the snow has melted and disappeared.”
In response to a question, Sedki confirmed that the Assad-Mubarak summit was scheduled for the early days of the following month. He also revealed a working paper delivered by Syrian Vice President Mr. Khaddam to the Egyptian leadership the previous Saturday, which outlined the formation of joint committees in various fields.
