Ashraf AboArafe
On the morning of Sunday, April 28, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Mr. Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
According to the statements of Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting witnessed welcoming the signing of Egypt and the European Union of the political declaration to raise relations between the two sides to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership on March 17, as well as welcoming the permanent and high-level coordination on various international and regional files. Expressing aspiration for the continuation of the political dialogue between the two sides regarding various files.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that the crisis in Gaza occupied most of the meeting, as the two sides discussed in detail the latest developments in the security and humanitarian situation in the Strip. Minister Shukri and the High Representative were keen to exchange assessments and the results of their contacts with various regional and international parties to end the war in Gaza and put an end to it. Because of the human tragedy that the residents of the Gaza Strip are experiencing. Mr. Borrell was also keen to learn from Minister Shukri about the developments in the ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel to achieve an immediate ceasefire and the exchange of detainees and hostages, as well as enhancing the access of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
Ambassador Abu Zeid stated that the two sides reaffirmed their position rejecting Israel launching a ground military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where Minister Shukri stressed the importance of the European Union and international actors moving to put pressure on Israel to prevent this military operation, and to stop any attempts to implement a scenario. Forced displacement of the people of the Gaza Strip or the liquidation of the Palestinian cause. Minister Shukri also stressed Egypt’s reliance on the efforts of the High Representative of the Union to formulate a strong and unified European position calling for a ceasefire, and to put pressure on Israel to remove the obstacles it places to the entry of this aid into the Gaza Strip and to refrain from any unilateral measures, not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank. And Jerusalem as well, in addition to launching a serious and effective political process for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution, noting the importance of not separating efforts to achieve a ceasefire and work to implement the two-state solution.
For his part, the High Representative of the European Union was keen to confirm the European Union’s support for the pivotal role played by Egypt in stopping the war in the Gaza Strip and containing its repercussions at various levels, expressing his readiness to engage effectively in any efforts aimed at stopping this fierce war.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman concluded his statements, noting that the two sides agreed to continue close consultation during the coming days to push towards ending the war in the Gaza Strip, and launching a serious and effective political process for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4 borders. For the year 1967.
