Egyptian, Saudi FMs discuss regional issues

CAIRO – 12 September 2018: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minster Adel al-Jubeir affirmed the deep relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, stressing the importance of coordination between the two states regarding Arabic and regional issues, with the aim of enhancing security in the Arab region.

Jubeir met with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the 150th ordinary session of the Arab League (AL) Council chaired by Sudan, where they discussed a number of regional issues including the situation in Yemen and Syria, Foreign Ministry Spokesman spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said.

During the meeting, Shoukry affirmed the importance of coordination between the two states in facing issues that threaten the Arab region, especially concerning the foreign intervention in the Arab affairs, and growing terrorism and extremism, Abu Zeid added.

Shoukry also affirmed asserted the need to work on uprooting terrorism through cutting off funding sources for the terror organizations and dealing with the regional supporters of such groups.

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- On June, 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have announced cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar over accusations of funding terrorism, harboouring fugitives, and interfering in other Arab states’ domestic affairs.

- Saudi Arabia has blamed Iran for interference interfering in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, and has also accused the Persian country of supporting Houthi fighters in Yemen, and supplying missiles to the Yemeni rebels. King Salman of Saudi Arabia said last April that up to 119 missiles were launched by Houthi militants to hit Saudi cities, where some of them targeted the holy city of Mecca.

- During the Arab Summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh in March 2015, Egypt backed the Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm against Houthi fighters in Iran, a move backing Yemeni legitimacy.

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In the wake of the recent attacks in Syria, particularly in the rebel-held province of Idlib, in Northwestern Syria, Shoukry and Jubeir agreed during the meeting on the necessity of accelerating the search for a political solution through serious negotiations sponsored by the United Nations, Abu Zeid said.

Shoukry lauded the strong brotherly relations linking the two countries. He also expressed Cairo’s appreciation of the current level of coordination and cooperation with Saudi Arabia, and reviewed with Jubeir further cooperation opportunities.

Egypt will not tolerate terrorism and its supporters: FM Shoukry

CAIRO – 12 September 2018: Egypt will not tolerate terrorist acts or foreign interventions in the Arab countries' internal affairs.