Ashraf AboArafe
Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, received on Tuesday, October 15, Mr. Hamish Falconer, British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations and consult on developments in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
Ambassador/ Tamim Khalaf, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Abdel Aati reviewed Egypt’s position on the successive developments witnessed by the region and their repercussions on the security and stability of the region, stressing the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unconditional access to humanitarian and relief aid to the Strip, stressing that recognition of the Palestinian state based on the two-state solution is necessary to achieve security, stability and peace in the region, calling on the United Kingdom to recognize the Palestinian state.
Minister Abdel Aati also discussed the intensive efforts made by Egypt to stop the escalation and reach an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, stressing the need for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all Lebanese territories and respect for the sovereignty, unity and integrity of Lebanese territories, and Israel’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel in the UNIFIL force, and denounced Israel’s targeting of UNIFIL in a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law. He also stressed the importance of implementing Security Council Resolution 1701 by all parties without selectivity and empowering Lebanese institutions, including the Lebanese army. On the other hand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, and encouraged British companies to enhance their investments in Egypt in light of the promising opportunities available in various fields and the measures taken by the government to prepare the investment climate in Egypt. The two sides expressed their aspiration to hold the second session of the Egyptian-British Partnership Council headed by the Foreign Ministers, to give a boost to trade and economic relations between the two countries.
