Shoukry meets with high profile officials in NYC

CAIRO – 23 September 2018: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met with several important officials and a number of ministers Saturday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York City.

Shoukry received UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura Saturday at the Egypt Mission headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly, according to a statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid.

The meeting tackled several issues such as the latest developments in the Syrian crisis and means to advance the political resolution, in addition to dealing with crisis-related humanitarian challenges.


Shoukry received UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura Saturday at the Egypt Mission headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly - Press Photo

Shoukry warned of the dangers of giving terrorist elements any safe corridors that would enable them to leave Idlib and enter other regions and countries.

Abu Zied’s statement added that during the meeting, Shoukry highlighted Egypt's desire to participate in the ministerial meeting on Syria this week in New York.

In the same context, Shoukry met with Achim Steiner, the administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

During the meeting Shoukry expressed his appreciation for the magnitude of existing cooperation and relations with the UNDP and of the program’s support of the Egyptian efforts to proceed with the national reviews related to implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council affiliated with the UN.

Shoukry also emphasized Egypt’s great interest in reinforcing the UN and the international multilateral system, including reforming the UN’s development system.
For his part, Steiner emphasized that Egypt is the main partner of the UNDP in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Also, Shoukry met with his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa to discuss bilateral relations and developments in the region, the Foreign Ministry’s statement reported.

At the beginning of the meeting, Shoukry expressed his deep appreciation for Bahraini efforts and stances to preserve the Arab national security, praising the depth and strength of Egyptian-Bahraini relations.

For his part, the Bahraini minister praised the distinguished relations between the two countries in all fields.

The statement reported that Shoukry stressed Egypt’s support for the security and stability of Bahrain, adding that Egypt condemned the terrorist acts which aimed to destroy the stability of the region.

The meeting also tackled the regional issues of common concern, particularly the latest developments in Yemen and Syria as well as the efforts to combat terrorism in the region and the Palestinian cause.


Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017- REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

President Abdel Fatah al-sisi arrived in New York on September 21 ahead of a full schedule on the sidelines of attending the 73rd UNGA meetings. Many other Egyptian expats rallied the streets holding flags and balloons in a show of love and happiness to welcome the Egyptian president.

Sisi will deliver a statement at one of the meetings next week, as he will address the Egyptian vision to achieve world peace through deeper UN roles and a call to contain all armed conflicts, eradicate terrorism, push for denuclearization and tackle economic concerns, according to a Friday statement by the Egyptian presidency.