Shoukry discusses Palestinian crisis with Spanish Counterpart

CAIRO – 14 February 2018: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stated on Wednesday during a press conference with his Spanish counterpart, Alfonso Dastis Quecedo, that the Palestinian issue currently tops Egypt’s concerns in the Middle East.

Shoukry stressed the importance of restoring the peace process in Palestine by recognizing a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He added that Egypt is fighting terrorism in the Middle East, and the talks also tackled Egypt's efforts to settle the Libyan and Syrian crises and push forward the Middle East peace process.

Shoukry headed for Spain Tuesday on a two-day visit to boost bilateral ties, the ministry's spokesman said.

Upon his arrival, Shoukry met with the Spanish King Felipe VI and discussed means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and trade domains.

On his part, King Felipe VI hailed Egypt’s “Comprehensive Military Operation of Sinai 2018”, which the Egyptian armed forces launched on Friday to purge the country from terrorism.

The minister will then leave Spain for Munich to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC), slated for February 15-18.

The MSC agenda will focus in particular on the future role of the European Union as a global actor and its relations with Russia as well as the United States.

Shoukry will be the main speaker at the conference's session on combating terrorism.