Political Consultation Mechanism between Egypt, Gulf Cooperation Council launched

CAIRO – 13 December 2021: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry took part Sunday evening in the launching of the Political Consultation Mechanism between Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh.

In his speech, Minister Shokry affirmed the distinctiveness of the ties between Egypt and the Arab Gulf countries on different levels. He equally underscored the importance of building on this in a way that fulfills the various interests of all parties, and the aspirations of their peoples achieving prosperity and welfare.

The statement issued by the ministry indicates that the chief of Egyptian diplomacy showcased growing developments on the regional and international scales, which give a rising need to expand joint Arab work as well as maintain the periodicity of institutional coordination and consultation among Arab states.

The minister further underlined the fundamentals of Egypt's foreign policy emphasizing the reinforcement of Arab solidarity and joint Arab work with the aim of preserving Arab national security, capitalizing on the capabilities and capacities of the Arab countries.  

Minister Shokry also noted that Egypt's rejection to all attempts of interference with the internal affairs of Arab states, and to all threats targeted at their stability and interests of their peoples. He equally stressed Egypt's backing to Gulf countries in taking the measures they perceive suitable to conserve their security and guarantee their stability.

On their side, the foreign ministers of Gulf states expressed appreciation for the Egyptian pivotal role in the Arab security and stability, and support to the steps it makes to maintain its security, including water rights.

In a phone-in with TV host Amr Adib later on Sunday, Egypt's foreign minister stated that the meeting consisted of talks on Libya, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis, and ways of achieving stability and economic cooperation. Shokry added that participants had also set visions on dealing with a number of issues in the future.

Speaking of Libya, in particular, the minister said that his Gulf counterparts congrued on the necessity of holding elections that reflect the willpower of the Libyan people, strengthening the Libyan state institutions, and deportation of foreign mercenaries.

As for the GERD dispute, the Gulf ministers of foreign affairs asserted the salience of reaching a legally binding agreement that ensures no harm to the interests of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. They also expressed solidarity with Egypt over defending its water security.