'Iran can help settle Syria crisis'

Egypt says the Islamic Republic of Iran can be a part of a solution to more than two years of deadly crisis which is plaguing Syria.

œEgypt considers Iran part of a solution to the Syria crisis not part of the crisis, as some parties believe,” Egypt Presidential Spokesman Ihab Fahmi told a press conference on Monday.

Fahmi also described Iran as an œinfluential” country in the region and added, œOur communication with the Iranian side was reflected on our consensus over the necessity of reaching a political solution to the Syria crisis.”

Tehran has repeatedly condemned any foreign interference in Syria and denounced the support of certain countries for militants carrying out terrorist activities in the Arab state, which has been grappling with unrest since March 2011.

The Egyptian official further reaffirmed Cairo™s stance regarding the situation in Syria, saying that Egypt favors an immediate end to the ongoing violence in Syria.

Fahmi went on to say that the Syria issue should be settled through a dialogue between Damascus and its Western-backed opposition, stating that the will of the Syrian nation should be respected.

œAll diplomatic communications run by Egypt with Russia, Iran, Turkey and any other international stakeholders aim at reaching a peaceful settlement for the Syria crisis,” the Egyptian presidential spokesman added.

On May 7, Russia and the United States agreed to hold an œinternational peace conference” on Syria, which will serve as a follow-up to an earlier Geneva meeting, which was held in June 2012.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said Iran plays a key role in resolving the crisis in Syria, underlining the need for the participation of the Islamic Republic in the upcoming international conference on Syria in Geneva.

MKA/KA/SS