Egypt, France discuss strategic relations

CAIRO – 25 November 2024: Badr Abdel Aty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, met with Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Monday, November 25.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Rome Mediterranean Dialogues Forum to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss pressing regional issues of mutual interest.

The Egyptian minister commended the strategic partnership between Egypt and France, emphasizing shared ambitions to expand cooperation across various fields. He highlighted Egypt’s reforms to create an investor-friendly climate and expressed eagerness to attract more French investments.

Abdel Aty praised the collaboration with French companies engaged in key projects across Egypt and emphasized Egypt’s expectation for France’s continued support within the framework of the EU-Egypt Strategic Partnership.

Discussing the ongoing situation in Gaza, Abdel Aty underlined the urgency of achieving an immediate ceasefire and ensuring unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas. He called for intensified international and regional efforts to de-escalate tensions and reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to advancing the two-state solution. Abdel Aty reiterated the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state in line with international resolutions.

The ministers exchanged views on developments in Lebanon. Abdel Aty emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire, the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and supporting the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

He also called for bolstering Lebanese state institutions and enabling the Lebanese army to maintain security in the country’s southern region. Additionally, he reiterated Egypt’s ongoing efforts to resolve Lebanon’s presidential vacuum through national consensus, free from external interference.

This meeting reinforced the commitment of both nations to fostering stronger bilateral ties while addressing critical challenges in the Middle East.