MAKKAH: Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi has presented a new proposal to solve the Syrian crisis.
Addressing the Islamic Solidarity Summit at Al Safa Royal Palace in Makkah early yesterday, Mursi suggested the formation of a group of four countries — Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Egypt — to decide the political future of Syria.
According to diplomats who heard President Mursi’s speech, one of his preconditions for going ahead with the formation of such a quartet of Muslim countries is the departure of Bashar Assad. “He has to go ... That is the primary condition,” one of the diplomats quoted Mursi as saying. “The quartet will directly liaise with the people of Syria to hammer out a solution.”
Saudi Arabia being the host did not immediately react to the proposal and instead gave the floor to the visitors to speak their mind on the proposal. There was no reaction from Iran. One reason for that may be because Mursi spoke after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.
Interestingly, Ahmedinejad did not mention Syria even once during his fairly long address at the summit.
“That is a good sign,” said an Egyptian diplomat. “Him not referring to Syria indicates a possible change of heart.” Otherwise, the diplomat said, there was nothing new in Ahmedinejad’s speech. He basically repeated the Iranian view of the world. “We have heard that all too often.”
According to the diplomat, he did not refer to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s proposal for creating an inter-sectarian dialogue center.
If the Egyptian proposal on Syria gets off the ground, it will be the first serious Muslim attempt to solve the crisis in Syria. Many diplomats here at the summit have decried the Russian intervention in Muslim affairs. “They are unnecessarily poking their nose in our affairs and causing trouble,” they said. “We need to stop the Russians from interfering in our affairs.”
On the sidelines of the summit, Mursi met with King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister defense.
Mursi visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah before leaving the Kingdom yesterday. He was seen off at Madinah airport by Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed, Maj. Gen. Fahd Al-Anazi, commander of Madinah, and other senior officials.
It was Mursi’s second official visit to the Kingdom since he became president.
