Egyptian, French FMs Discuss Regional De-escalation, Bilateral Co-op

Badr Abdel Atty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, held a phone conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot as part of ongoing coordination and mutual consultation between Cairo and Paris to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and to exchange views on developments in Lebanon and Gaza, in addition to discussing bilateral cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khallaf stated that the phone talks between both ministers covered the strong bilateral relations between Egypt and France. 

They also praised the level of cooperation in all areas and expressed a mutual commitment to advancing these ties further. 

On his part, Abdel Atty expressed his hope for continued French support for Egypt within the European Union, especially after upgrading Egypt-EU relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Moreover, The ministers discussed in detail the situation in Lebanon, addressing both countries' efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and to ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. They emphasized the need for all parties to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

They also discussed the issue of Lebanon’s presidential vacancy and the importance of quickly electing a consensus president.

In this regard, FM condemned repeated Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and attacks on UNIFIL forces, stressing the importance of respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and the need to support Lebanese institutions.

Furthermore, the two ministers reviewed current efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate humanitarian aid amid deteriorating conditions in the region.

Abdel Atty reaffirmed Egypt’s strong rejection of Israel’s escalatory actions aimed at obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid. 

He also emphasized the importance of empowering the Palestinian Authority, ending the Israeli occupation, addressing the root causes of the conflict, and establishing a contiguous and viable Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.