Egypt’s FM, UN Deputy Secretary-General discuss preparation for ‘Summit of the Future’

CAIRO – 18 August 2024: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration Badr Abdelatty, received on Sunday, August 18, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, stated that the meeting comes within the framework of the mutual commitment to enhance mechanisms for consultation and coordination between Egypt and the UN at various levels, and to strengthen the effectiveness of the UN system and multilateral cooperation, especially in light of the significant challenges currently facing the global system.

 In this context, Abdelatty affirmed the high priority Egypt places for advancing multilateral international cooperation, praising the existing collaboration between Egypt and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Cairo.

He confirmed Egypt's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fulfilling its role in maintaining international peace and security.

The two sides discussed extensively the preparations for the "Summit of the Future" scheduled to be held in September.

The Deputy Secretary-General emphasized the significant importance that the UN system is giving to ensuring the success of this summit, which aims to address challenges and close gaps in global governance, as well as reaffirm existing commitments to global goals.

For his part, Abdelatty welcomed the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to hold the "Summit of the Future," affirming Egypt's support for the summit, which aims to enhance the multilateral cooperation framework.

On the regional level, the Spokesperson indicated that the two sides broadly discussed the situation in the African continent, where Abdelatty reviewed the results of his recent visits to several African countries aimed at advancing Egyptian-African relations to new horizons.

He highlighted his visit to Somalia and his communications with the Foreign Ministers of several Sahel countries, noting Egypt's efforts to support development, stability, and counter-terrorism and extremism in that region.

In this context, the UN official was keen to hear Abdelatty's assessment of the situation in the region, particularly the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The Foreign Minister stressed Egypt's continuous efforts with all active regional and international parties to achieve a ceasefire in the strip and to contain the escalation in the region.

He also emphasized that Egypt is doing everything possible to end the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people and to contain any potential escalation in the region.

The Foreign Minister underscored that Israel's policy of escalation is wholly unacceptable and will only lead to further humanitarian suffering for the Palestinian people and an expansion of the conflict.

Moreover, the Foreign Minister praised the UN Secretary-General's position since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip and his insistence on the need for a ceasefire.

For her part, the Deputy UN Secretary-General commended Egypt's active role from the very start of the crisis and appreciated the ongoing coordination between Egypt and the UN to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and alleviate the humanitarian disaster faced by the Palestinian people.

She also reiterated the importance of a ceasefire and expressed hope that Egyptian mediation efforts, in cooperation with the United States and Qatar, would achieve their desired goal.

Ambassador Abu Zeid concluded his statements by noting that both sides agreed to maintain the pace of consultations and coordination on issues related to Egypt's relationship with the international organization, as well as regional and international matters of mutual interest.

The Deputy UN Secretary-General also expressed her anticipation for Egypt's participation in the high-level segment of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled to take place in September at the UN Headquarters in New York.

“In September, world leaders will convene at the United Nations to adopt the Pact for the Future, which will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes,” said the UN official website of the summit.