FM Shoukry condemns Turkish practices, affirm Egypt’s commitment to anti-Daesh coalition targets

CAIRO, 4 June 2020: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry condemned the Turkish practices and violations of the international law, Security Council resolutions, and its threatening role regarding Libya.

During a video-conference ministerial mini-group meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh, Shoukry asserted Egypt’s full commitment to the targets set by the Global Coalition against Daesh, noting that Cairo presses ahead with its relevant efforts in the forefront of countries fighting not only Daesh but all terrorist organizations as well, including the Muslim Brotherhood.

Those organizations pose a threat to international peace and security, Shoukry said during the meeting was called by the foreign ministers of the US and Italy.

During his speech, Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s full respect of international law and all Security Council resolutions during its fight against terrorism, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said.

Despite the international community’s preoccupation with addressing the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the coalition’s efforts to curb Daesh’s ambition to exploit this health crisis and carry out terror attacks have to be maintained, Shoukry said.

He also called for offering new safe havens for those harmed by terrorism.

Shoukry urged the anti-Daesh international coalition to give top priority to the growing danger of Daesh terrorist group in West Africa and the Sahel region.

He also underscored the importance of continuing the coalition’s efforts to defeat Daesh and prevent it from re-forming itself in Iraq and Syria, while at the same time preserving the two countries’ sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

In this regard, the top Egyptian diplomat emphasized that Cairo welcomes exerting more joint efforts with the Iraqi government to foster cooperation as regards combating terrorism, supporting stability In Iraq and rebuilding its institutions.`

Shoukry also called on the international coalition to back the Syrian people through supporting efforts to hammer out a sustainable political settlement in the war-torn country.

The foreign minister reviewed Egypt’s vision about the presence of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq, noting in this respect that what the global coalition has achieved has become under threat owing to Turkey’s role in recruiting, training and transporting thousands of foreign fighters from Syria to Libya.

The Turkish practices constitute a blatant violation of international law and Security Council resolutions and threaten the goals the Global Coalition against Daesh seeks to achieve, Shoukry said.

On that score, he urged the international coalition to guarantee Turkey’s immediate abandoning of such practices and commitment to its legal obligations.

Earlier on Thursday, during Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter meeting with high-rank Egyptian officials, Egypt affirmed its rejections of foreign interference in Libya and the need to dismantle the militias and stop supplying them with weapons.

Sources said, that Cairo confirmed it would not allow any threat to its western borders.
Haftar arrived in Cairo, Wednesday night, to meet a number of Egyptian high-rank officials and discuss the latest political updates in Libya.