Ashraf AboArafe
Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, received Ms. Dubravka Suica, EU Commissioner for Mediterranean Affairs, where political consultations were held between the two sides to discuss Egyptian-European relations and to review the latest regional and international developments of common interest.
Ambassador Tamim Khilaf, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Abdel Aati expressed Egypt’s welcome to the creation of a position concerned with Mediterranean affairs in the new formation of the European Commission, which is a positive trend from the European Union that reflects the interest in enhancing cooperation between the two sides. He expressed his aspiration to work with the European Commissioner to support cooperation with the European Union within the framework of implementing the six axes of the comprehensive strategic partnership, and stressed the importance of paying attention to the economic aspect of the strategic partnership and looking forward to passing the draft resolution on the second tranche of the European financial package worth 4 billion euros.
Minister Abdel Aati stressed the priority given by the Egyptian government to attracting European investments, as he informed the European official about the promising investment opportunities provided by Egypt in various sectors, in addition to the Suez Canal Economic Zone as a global logistics center and an attractive area for global investments, highlighting the opportunities for cooperation in the field of energy from various sources to enhance European energy security. Minister Abdel Aati addressed the issue of migration, stressing the need for cooperation to be within a comprehensive framework based on linking migration to development, addressing the root causes of illegal migration, and strengthening partnership in the field of regular migration, reviewing the huge burdens borne by Egypt in connection with hosting millions of refugees and migrants. The official spokesman added that the consultations witnessed an exchange of views on regional developments of common interest, most notably the situation in the Gaza Strip, where Minister Abdel Aati briefed the European official on Egypt’s efforts aimed at ensuring the consolidation and sustainability of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and the plan being formulated for the reconstruction of Gaza, which enjoys Arab and Islamic support, expressing his aspiration for the European Union to support the Egyptian efforts, stressing the need to reach a permanent and just political solution to the Palestinian issue leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as the only path to achieving peace in the region.
He also reviewed the determinants of the Egyptian position on the developments in Syria, stressing Egypt’s position in support of the Syrian state and respect for its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and the importance of being a source of stability in the region by launching a comprehensive political process that includes all components of the Syrian people.
Regarding Lebanon, he pointed out that Egypt welcomes the Lebanese government gaining the confidence of the members of the House of Representatives, which is an important step to inaugurate a new phase that contributes to achieving security and stability in Lebanon and the aspirations of the Lebanese people, stressing Egypt’s full support for Lebanon, its government and national institutions, and stressed the importance of implementing the cessation of hostilities agreement and Israel’s full and undiminished withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
The consultations also touched on the situation in Sudan, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed Egypt’s full support for the brotherly Sudanese people, in light of the fraternal relations and historical ties between the two countries, stressing Egypt’s position in support of Sudan and its national institutions, and its exertion of all efforts aimed at strengthening its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, in addition to supporting humanitarian response efforts.
As for the Libyan file, Minister Abdel Aati pointed out the importance of working to resolve the crisis of the executive authority as soon as possible and forming a new unified government leading to holding presidential and parliamentary elections, supporting the Libyan/Libyan solution path, and the necessity of ending all manifestations of foreign presence in Libya, in a way that returns Libya to the Libyans and preserves its unity and sovereignty.
