FM Shoukry affirms Egypt’s stance on Jerusalem with Mogherini

CAIRO – 31 January 2018: Minster of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry stressed on Egypt’s steadfast stance of the Palestinian issue during his meeting with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday.

In an official statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Ahmed Abu Zeid, he stated that Shoukry assured Mogherini in their meeting that Egypt is committed to its announced and well-known stance of the Palestinian case, which is respecting the international agreements and talks that aimed to establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

This solution is to enhance peace and stability in the Middle East region, as the alternatives became limited, according to Abu Zeid’s statement.

During their meeting, Shoukry and Mogherini also discussed cooperation between the EU and Egypt as real partners in all different levels, including economy, politics and development.

The talks between Shoukry and Mogherini came on the sideline of the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) on Tuesday in Brussels.

The AHLC is a 15-member committee that serves as the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for development assistance to the Palestinian people.

According to Abu Zeid’s statement, the extraordinary meeting came within the framework of a European initiative in light of recent developments on the issue of Jerusalem.

The meeting chaired by Mogherini mainly aimed at discussing the future of the peace process, how to maintain the unity of the international position towards the Palestinian issue, and how to move to re-correct the course and achieve the two-state solution.

They also discussed ways to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and support the Palestinian national institutions to develop their capabilities, enabling them to manage the Gaza Strip.

In May 2017, the members of the AHLC also met in Brussels and were hosted by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, and chaired by Norway’s Foreign Minister Børge Brende.

After U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December, all Arab and Islamic leaders rejected the decision, joined by most Western and Asian leaders, adding that such a move could ignite violence and bury any hope of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets to denounce the American decision on Jerusalem in many cities across the world.