Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Sunday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum hosted by the Saudi capital Riyadh.
According to statements by Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesperson and Director of the General Diplomacy Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting welcomed the signing of the political declaration between Egypt and the EU to elevate relations to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership on March 17.
They also welcomed the continuous and high-level coordination on various international and regional issues, expressing the aspiration for the continued political dialogue between the two sides on various files.
The crisis in Gaza dominated the majority of the meeting, with both sides extensively discussing the developments of the security and humanitarian situations in the sector.
Shoukry and the High Representative were keen on exchanging assessments and the results of their communications with various regional and international parties to end the war in Gaza and put an end to the humanitarian tragedy experienced by the sector’s residents.
Borrell also sought to learn from Minister Shoukry about the developments in the ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel to achieve an immediate ceasefire, exchange detainees and hostages, as well as to enhance the access of humanitarian aid into the sector.
Abu Zeid mentioned that both sides reiterated their rejection of Israel’s ground military operation in Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip.
Shoukry emphasized the importance of the EU and other influential international parties exerting pressure on Israel to prevent such a military operation, and to stop any attempts to forcibly displace the residents of Gaza or liquidate the Palestinian cause.
He also relied on Egypt’s efforts to crystallize a strong and unified European position calling for a ceasefire and pressuring Israel to remove the obstacles hindering the access of aid into the sector and refrain from any unilateral actions not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank and Jerusalem, in addition to initiating a serious and effective political process for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.
For his part, the High Representative of the EU expressed the EU’s support for Egypt’s pivotal role in stopping the war in the Gaza Strip and containing its repercussions on various levels, expressing his readiness to actively engage in any efforts aimed at ending this fierce war.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson concluded his statements, indicating that both sides agreed to continue close consultations in the coming days to push for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and launch a serious and effective political process for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967.
