French FM Arrives in Cairo

Early Sunday, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in Cario in an official visit to discuss issues of mutual interest with Egyptian officials.

Le Drian is scheduled to discuss regional issues of common interest between Egypt and France, especially the Libyan crisis, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

During his visit, Le Drian will discuss the peace process in the Middle East and developments in the eastern Mediterranean.

The official website of the French Foreign Ministry stated that Le Drian is scheduled to be received by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and foreign minister Sameh Shoukry.

Notably, French President Emanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin discussed a number of regional files, especially with regard to the escalating conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In a statement, the Kremlin said that the two presidents voiced their deep and serious concern over the involvement of extremist fighters from Syria and Libya in the large-scale clashes between ethnic Armenian and Azeri forces in the region.

On his part, Putin briefed Macron on the steps Russia is taking to reach a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible and resumption of negotiations designed to ensure a political and diplomatic solution.

The interlocutors stressed the determination to continue the mediating efforts of Russia and France, including within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.