Egypt's FM Meets French Presidential Envoy to Discuss Lebanon Crisis

On Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks in Cairo with Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Presidential Envoy to Lebanon, as part of Le Drian's current visit to Egypt. The discussions focused on the ongoing presidential vacancy crisis in Lebanon and broader regional stability issues.

Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that Minister Shoukry praised the active role played by the ambassadors of the Quintet group, which includes Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United States, in Lebanon. The visit by Le Drian underscores the strong coordination between Egypt and France, which is crucial for addressing the challenges in Lebanon.

During the meeting, Minister Shoukry emphasized the need for intensified joint efforts to resolve Lebanon's presidential crisis swiftly. He pointed out that the regional crisis underscores the urgency of filling the presidential vacuum to enable Lebanon to confront escalating challenges effectively.

Ambassador Abu Zeid noted that the discussions also covered the importance of the Quintet committee's neutral role in facilitating a consensus among various Lebanese factions over a presidential candidate. This is seen as critical to resolving the crisis promptly.

Minister Shoukry reiterated Egypt’s firm stance on de-escalating the crisis in the Gaza Strip and preventing the broader regional conflict. He stressed the gravity of the situation in Gaza and the international community’s failure to prevent Israeli incursions into Palestinian Rafah. Shoukry called for stronger and more impactful actions from major countries and key players, beyond mere statements and appeals.

Furthermore, Minister Shoukry expressed Egypt’s deep commitment to maintaining Lebanon’s security, stability, and sovereignty. He appreciated France’s efforts to calm tensions in southern Lebanon and confirmed Cairo’s support for these initiatives. He also emphasized the importance of incorporating the preservation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and security in any proposals to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which aims to stop Israeli aggressions.

On his part, Le Drian expressed his appreciation for Egypt's persistent efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and its pivotal role in the Quintet committee to ease tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli front. He acknowledged Egypt's assistance to all Lebanese parties in overcoming the current stalemate related to the presidential vacancy in Lebanon.