Erdogan, Pezeshkian call for Syria unity at Cairo summit

Turkey and Iran call for unity in Syria at D-8 summit, urge peace and inclusivity after Assad's ouster.

CAIRO:

The leaders of Turkey and Iran called on Thursday for unity in Syria at a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries after the ouster of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey historically backed Assad's opponents, while Iran supported his rule.

The gathering of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8, was being held against a backdrop of regional turmoil including the conflict in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and unrest in Syria.

In a speech at the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for reconciliation in Syria and the restoration of the country's "territorial integrity and unity".

He also voiced hope for "the establishment of a Syria free of terrorism", where "all religious sects and ethnic groups live side by side in peace".

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also called for "the participation of all (Syrian) groups in the future government... as well as respect for different beliefs and religions".

He added that "for more than 14 months, the Middle East region, in particular Gaza and southern Lebanon, and now... Syria, has been the target of massive attacks" by Israel.

"It is our religious, legal and human duty to prevent further harm" to those suffering in the conflict zones, he said.

Pezeshkian is the first Iranian president to visit Egypt since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013.

Relations between Egypt and Iran have been strained for decades, but diplomatic contacts have intensified since Cairo became a mediator in the war in Gaza.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Egypt in October, while his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty travelled to Tehran in July to attend Pezeshkian's inauguration.