Egypt affirms to France need for Gaza ceasefire, inclusive political transition in Syria

CAIRO – 4 January 2025: The foreign ministers of Egypt and France discussed the efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as developments in both Syria and Somalia as they made a phone call on Saturday.

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty stressed to France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot on the need to enhance efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and boost the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave.

On Syria, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s stance in support of the Syrian people, underscoring the necessity for the political transition in Syria to be inclusive in order to preserve the Syrian state’s stability and unity.

As they discussed developments in Somalia, Abdelatty underlined the need for respecting the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Somali territories.

Moreover, the ministers discussed ways to enhance Egyptian-French relations.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt's appreciation for the strategic relations between the two countries, and the aspiration to enhance all aspects of their bilateral relations.

The ministers highlighted the importance of implementing the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron regarding elevating the two countries’ relations.

Sisi and Macron held a phone conversation last Saturday, where they discussed bilateral relations and various global issues of mutual concern, including developments in Syria, Somalia, Gaza and Lebanon.

The presidents stressed the need to initiate a comprehensive and inclusive political process in Syria and highlighted the urgency of reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip to facilitate prisoner swap and ensure aid flow to the enclave.

The two countries’ coordination on Syria comes while the Arab country is struggling for stability after the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad government on 8 December.

Egypt has started diplomatic communication with the provisional government in Syria last week. On Tuesday, Abdelatty made a phone call with Asaad Al-Shaibani, the Foreign Minister of Syria's interim government.

Egypt also sent today its first humanitarian aid shipment since the fall of Assad, constituting 15 tons of relief aid, medicine and food.