Egypt-EU political dialogue focused on regional issues, Qatar crisis -- foreign ministry

CAIRO - 25 July 2017: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attended, as he started a visit to Brussels, a session of political dialogue with the European Union in the presence of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

The Foreign ministry's spokesman Ahmed Abu-Zeid said regional issues were highly discussed during the talks in light of priorities of consultations between Egypt and the EU for the 2017-2020 period.

The session was preceded by a meeting between Mogherini and Shoukry in the presence of Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn.

In a speech during the political dialogue session, Mogherini said the EU deals with Egypt as a main partner in the Middle East and seeks coordination with its in a number of crises that face the region including the conditions in Syria, Libya and the crisis with Qatar.

The foreign minister said Egypt welcomes transparent and deep dialogue with the EU on issues including projects of water resources that are participated by the European bloc in the Nile Basin.

As for the crisis with Qatar, Shoukry reviewed the stance of the four Arab countries which cut off the relations with Doha. He asserted that Cairo will never accept any bargain in requirements that have bee presented to Doha to end the crisis.

The two sides also agreed on settling the crisis in Libya through political means, said the spokesman, adding that the foreign minister told the European side that Cairo seeks to end differences between the Libyan parties to reach a comprehensive settlement.

As for the crisis in Syria, Shoukry asserted the necessity to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people and to maintain the territorial integrity of Syria.