French FM: No country but Egypt could achieve Palestinian reconciliation

6 October 2017: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday the developments of Palestinian cause and future of the peace process.

Le Derian, Minister of Europe and French Foreign Affairs Minister, delivered his country’s congratulations on accomplishing Palestinian internal reconciliation to Shoukry.

Shoukry, who is visiting Paris now, spoke with Le Derian about Egypt’s endeavors to reach reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Le Derian referred to the reconciliation as a “significant achievement.”

“Egypt has sought to encourage Palestinian and Israeli parties to return back to the negotiation table,” Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abou Zeid said in a statement Friday.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s meetings with Palestinian and Israeli presidents at the sidelines of the UNGA session in New York in September reflected the Egyptian administration’s sincere efforts to fulfill progress in the peace process, Abou Zeid added.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations along with the recent developments in the Middle East, especially the situation in Libya, Syria and Iraq.