Egyptian FM Discusses Regional Developments with Irish Counterpart

Mohamed Emad

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry today received a phone call from Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney.

During the call, the Irish and the Egyptian side discussed a number of issues of common interest between the two countries.

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Hafez, said that the two ministers discussed ways of enhancing cooperation relations in various fields and regional situations.

"The two ministers discussed the developments in the Palestinian situation and the peace process," Hafiz said. They also reviewed the settlement process and ways to achieve the desired peace to meet the aspirations to ensure stability and security.

In this context, Shoukry outlined Egypt's firm vision in this regard, stressing the importance of reaching a just settlement for the Palestinian issue to ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.

French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, met Shoukry, on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Osaka. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Le Drian described the talks as “positive and friendly”.

The foreign minister stressed the importance of supporting the UNRWA, expressing Egypt’s full support to the UN relief agency.

He also called for reaching solutions to deal with the possible consequences which could weaken the role of the UNRWA in helping the Palestinian refugees.