Egyptian, Finnish FMs discuss bilateral ties, regional tensions

CAIRO: 25 October 2024: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty received a phone call on Friday from Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen. They discussed overall bilateral relations and regional and international developments of common interest.

Minister Abdelatty expressed his aspiration for close coordination with the Finnish Foreign Minister to enhance bilateral relations, stressing the importance of advancing economic relations and the Finnish benefiting from promising investment opportunities in Egypt in various sectors, in addition to supporting cooperation between the private sectors in the two countries.

He also stressed the desire to cooperate with Finland in the field of digital transformation, information and communications technology and artificial intelligence.

The Egyptian Minister touched on the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Egypt and the European Union, where he stressed Egypt's reliance on Finland's support for Egyptian priorities within the European Union, especially with regard to the issues of economic support, water security and the immigration file.

Regarding developments in the Middle East, the Egyptian Foreign Minister condemned the Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, its flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law, and its transgressions against UNRWA in Gaza and UNIFIL forces in Lebanon.

Abdelatty stressed the importance of concerted international efforts to reduce the escalation, contain the situation, reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and allow the provision of humanitarian and relief aid without conditions.