Shoukry, Lavrov reaffirm support for Palestinian statehood

CAIRO - 20 December 2023: Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed their strong opposition to the forcible displacement of Palestinians during a meeting on the sidelines of the sixth Arab-Russian Forum in Marrakech, Morocco, on Wednesday.

In his remarks to the forum, Shoukry said that Egypt considers the forcible displacement of Palestinians to be a red line that should not be crossed under any circumstances.

He called on the international community to take concrete steps to stop Israel's practices that are leading to this displacement, and to create an environment conducive to a return to serious and effective negotiations that will achieve a two-state solution.

Lavrov, for his part, said that Russia supports the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and a state of their own. He also condemned Israel's continued attacks on the Gaza Strip and called for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.

The two ministers also discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine. Shoukry thanked Russia for its balanced position on the issue and its support for the Arab-led mediation efforts. He also expressed Egypt's hope that Russia will continue to support the Arab and Palestinian positions that reject Israeli violations and seek international support for the recognition of a Palestinian state and its full membership in the United Nations.

The meeting between Shoukry and Lavrov was a sign of the strong cooperation between Egypt and Russia on a variety of issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Ukraine.