Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry participated in the sixth session of the Arab-Russian Forum in Marrakesh, Morocco, where the forum convened on Wednesday. According to Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and director of Public Diplomacy, Minister Shoukry, in his address, highlighted Egypt’s pride in its historic and strategic relations with the Russian Federation.
These relations have developed significantly over the past decades in various fields, including politics, economy, trade, nuclear energy, food security, military coordination, and more.
Shoukry underscored the strategic partnership between the Arab world and Russia, expressing confidence in the Arab-Russian Forum’s role as a crucial platform for enhancing relations and partnerships, as well as identifying common priorities and positions on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The spokesperson noted that Minister Shoukry addressed the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza due to the relentless Israeli assaults over seventy days. He reiterated the critical need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, secure access to humanitarian and relief aid for Gaza, and an end to the inhumane blockade and collective punishment imposed on over 2 million Gaza residents.
Furthermore, Shoukry emphasized the international community’s growing firm stance against the forced displacement of the Palestinian people, a red line for Egypt, which should never be allowed under any pretext. He stressed the urgency for the international community to demonstrate genuine commitment to countering Israeli practices that effectively lead to such displacement, in order to salvage any chance for peace and establish a real path for serious negotiations.
These efforts aim to achieve a two-state solution, enforce relevant international legitimacy resolutions, and comply with the Arab Peace Initiative, ensuring the Palestinian people’s right to establish their independent state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Abu Zeid also pointed out that Shoukry’s speech shed light on the flaws of the current global system, which still practices double standards, and emphasized the need for a more balanced international system governed by humanitarian values, justice, and fairness. He thanked the Russian Federation for its balanced international political positions towards Arab issues, including its stance in the Security Council on developments in Gaza.
Shoukry expressed hope for continued Russian support for Arab and Palestinian positions opposing Israeli violations, and efforts to gain international support for recognizing Palestine and granting it full membership in the United Nations.
Concluding his statement, the spokesperson highlighted Egypt’s initiative to form a ministerial contact committee within the Arab League to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. This committee visited Russia and Poland last year, aiming for a peaceful political resolution at the earliest, reiterating the Arab League and its member states’ commitment to these earnest efforts, which could alleviate the political, security, and economic repercussions of this crisis impacting the world.
