CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné met Sunday to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and bilateral relations.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, said presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy, adding that the French top diplomat conveyed President Emmanuel Macron’s best regards to Sisi.
The two sides stressed the importance of continued coordination and co-operation in a way that would boost the strategic relationship between Cairo and Paris, Fahmy said.
Sisi also talked about Egypt’s efforts with the different partners to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gazans to help end their tragedy, the spokesman further said.
He also urged the world community to live up to its responsibilities to implement relevant international resolutions, Fahmy added.
Séjourné, for his part, said his country is keen on coordinating efforts with Egypt to achieve a sustainable ceasefire in the besieged enclave and exchange hostages, stressing the need to avoid the expansion of conflict in the region, the spokesman said.
The French foreign minister also called for invigorating the two-state solution as a key to a comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian cause and restoring security and stability in the Middle East, he added.
Both Sisi and Séjourné categorically rejected measures or policies to forcibly displace Palestinians, and agreed on the importance of the pivotal and irreplaceable role of the UNRWA in supporting residents of the Gaza Strip, especially in light of the catastrophic humanitarian conditions they are facing, the spokesman said.
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