Egypt, Malta’s FMs agree on resumption of direct flights

CAIRO – 6 September 2020:  Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Maltese counterpart Evarist Bartolo agreed to resume the direct flights between two countries after being suspended due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

Both Ministers held a session of discussions on a number of bilateral and regional issues of common interest, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez in a statement.

 

They agreed to enhance the cooperation of tourism after containing the COVID-19 virus.

 

 

The meeting also tackled the file of illegal migration and ways of finding international and regional solutions to this phenomenon. Bartolo praised Egypt’s efforts in curbing illegal migration since 2016.

 

Regarding the regional issues, both sides affirmed the necessity of keeping the cease-fire initiative in Libya and supporting a political solution that preserves the sovereignty and unity of Libya, and confronts terrorism and destructive foreign interference, Hafez said.

 

On August 21, 2020, both of the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives issued statements to announce a cease-fire and stopping all military operations in all Libyan territories.

 

 

The announcement was welcomed by several countries including Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah al Sisi, who welcomed the cease-fire initiative that has been declared by Libyan Speaker of the House of Representatives Agila Saleh and head of the Presidency Council Fayez Al-Sarraj, as a way for the departure of all mercenaries in Libya. Both Libyan leaders called for demilitarize the oil-rich area of Jafa-Sirte. The Libyan government, headed by Sarraj, called for holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections in March, Al-Arabiya reported.

 

 

During the meeting with Bartolo, Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s stance that aims at achieving a comprehensive and just peace for the Palestinian cause based on the international legitimacy resolutions and based on the principle of the two-state solution with putting an end to annexing the Palestinian territories.