The Syrian foreign minister today met his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo on the first such visit in more than a decade. This is the latest sign that the Arab countries are repairing relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Sameh Shukri hugged Faisal Mekdad as he arrived at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on his first official trip since the start of the 2011 uprising and conflict in Syria.

Many Western and Arab countries have alienated President Assad because of the war in Syria, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and fragmented the country.

An Egyptian source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the visit was intended to mark steps to bring Syria back into the Arab League through the mediation of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The Cairo-based Arab League suspended Syrian participation in 2011, and many Arab countries withdrew their ambassadors from Damascus.

Some countries, including the US and Qatar, have opposed rapprochement with Assad, citing government brutality during the conflict and the need for visible progress towards a political solution in Syria.

However, major regional powers, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are increasingly open about Syria.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry released photos of the two ministers at a private meeting ahead of the enlarged talks.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the talks are aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Shukri visited Syria and Turkey in February following devastating earthquakes in both countries.

Source: Reuters, APE-MPE.