CAIRO - 21 March 2024: Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received on Thursday U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss consolidating joint relations and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Ahmed Abu Zaid, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Shoukry touched on various aspects of the strategic relations between Egypt and the United States and means to strengthen and consolidate them.
The two diplomats spoke of ways to enhance cooperation frameworks at all the levels that the current stage is witnessing as the pace of coordination and exchange of visions is growing regarding regional and international issues, most notably in Gaza.
They discussed ways to end the crisis in Gaza and contain its repercussions.
For his part, Shoukry praised the important milestones witnessed last year in the path of Egyptian-U.S. relations in the economic field, as well as the continued American support for many development projects in the education and health sectors. He also acknowledged the strengthening of the role of the private sector in agriculture, tourism and scientific research.
On the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza Strip, Shoukry reviewed the Egyptian efforts aimed at reaching a truce in Gaza to reach a permanent ceasefire, emphasizing the need to intensify all efforts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible. The Egyptian minister underscored the necessity to implement Security Council Resolution No. 2720 regarding theUnited Nations mechanism to coordinate and monitor the entry of aid and overcoming the obstacles placed by Israel.
Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt's firm position on the severe risks of any military operation in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza, and the dire humanitarian consequences that would ensue, doubling the extremely dire humanitarian situation the strip is already witnessing.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Egypt's categorical rejection of attempts to displace the Palestinian people outside of their lands, warning of the dangerous and increasing regional repercussions of expanding the conflict in the region in a way that threatens the stability and safety of the region and the world.
Meanwhile, Blinken expressed his country’s keenness to strengthen its strategic relationship with Egypt in all fields. The efforts made by the U.S. to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and to support negotiations to exchange prisoners and detainees in order to reach a humanitarian truce were also reviewed.
The meeting also touched on a number of regional issues of common interest, Shoukry and Blinken were keen to exchange assessments and review efforts aimed at achieving peace in the growing hotbeds of tension in the region.
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment