Egyptian, Turkish FMs call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon

CAIRO – 27 September 2024: As part of a series of meetings held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Thursday.

The two ministers expressed their satisfaction with the recent progress in bilateral relations, particularly following President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's visit to Turkey in September 2024 and the signing of the joint declaration at the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Committee, as well as Turkish President Erdogan's visit to Egypt last February.

They emphasized their commitment to further enhancing economic and investment ties, aiming for a trade exchange volume of $15 billion, increasing tourism, and strengthening cooperation across various fields to serve the mutual interests of both countries and their peoples.

The meeting also addressed the concerning developments in the Middle East, particularly the escalation of Israeli aggression in Lebanon and ongoing violence against the Palestinian people.

Both ministers agreed on the necessity of achieving an immediate, comprehensive, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to prevent the region from going into a wider conflict. They underscored the importance of the international community's role in containing this dangerous escalation.

Additionally, they exchanged views on several regional issues and crises, including those in Sudan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and the Red Sea, as well as developments in the Horn of Africa.

The ministers agreed to continue coordinating and cooperating on various matters of mutual interest in both regional and international contexts.