Egypt delivered its statement during the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, held on July 5th and 6th. Osama Abdelkhalik, Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, delivered the statement on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry.
The statement addressed the risks of water scarcity, with Egypt emphasizing the need for goodwill and respect for international law, particularly regarding transboundary rivers and waterways.
Egypt emphasized the importance of ensuring that no harm comes to any of the countries sharing the same river basin, in order to preserve regional and international peace and stability.
The statement, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussed the various international and regional challenges facing the world, which require genuine cooperation and solidarity among all countries, especially in light of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and other successive global crises. It highlighted the challenges facing developing countries, particularly the growing economic burdens and the unprecedented debt crisis, which exacerbates budget deficits, necessitating advanced countries to respond more positively to debt swap requests and to convert part of the debt into joint investment projects that contribute to economic recovery.
Egypt emphasized the need to enhance the role of the Non-Aligned Movement and restore the spirit of the Bandung Principles upon which it was founded. The statement asserted that the current international tensions compel countries worldwide to reaffirm the highest priority of complete nuclear disarmament.
Egypt emphasized the importance of implementing nuclear commitments in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, highlighting that any measures to reduce nuclear risks do not substitute for disarmament.
Furthermore, the statement added that achieving the universality of the treaty, establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone, as well as all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, in accordance with the 1995 resolution, represents a key pillar in achieving security and stability in the region and the entire world. It also stressed the importance of maintaining the credibility of the treaty, considering that the 1995 resolution was and remains part of the indefinite extension deal for the treaty.
On another note, the statement reviewed Egypt’s position on the situations in the Middle East, particularly regarding Syria, the occupied Palestinian territories, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and also addressed the challenges facing the African Sahel region. It emphasized the necessity of international efforts coming together to support peacebuilding in the countries of the region and provide the necessary financing to support and build the capacities of national institutions, leading to a transition from conflict to development and prosperity.
