The statement issued at the end of the Committee’s meeting in Cairo, Egypt, stressed the need to take practical and effective measures to resolve the crisis gradually while preserving Syria’s unity, cohesion and sovereignty.

The text pointed out that the foreign ministers of Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan agreed to assist the Syrian people to achieve their aspirations, eradicate terrorism and ensure the conditions for the voluntary and safe return of refugees as a humanitarian priority.

The only solution to Syria’s problems must be political, and in order to achieve this longed-for solution, it was agreed to hold a meeting of the Syrian Constitution Discussion Committee in the Sultanate of Oman before the end of this year, the statement noted.

The ministers welcomed the agreement reached on August 7 between the United Nations and the Syrian Government to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing for a period of six months.

They noted the importance of strengthening cooperation between the government and countries hosting refugees to organize and facilitate their voluntary and safe return and end their suffering in coordination with relevant United Nations bodies, including the High Commissioner for Refugees.

They called for intensified work with the international and the UN community to speed up the implementation of early recovery projects and expand the scope of humanitarian activities.

The statement welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the Jordanian-Syrian Joint Security Committee to control borders and combat drug production and trafficking in July 2023.

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