Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received on Wednesday a US Congressional delegation, headed by Chairman of the Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee, Republican Congressman August Pfluger and a number of members of the U.S. Congress from the Democratic and Republican parties.The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Head of General Intelligence Service Gen. Abbas Kamel.
The meeting underscored the robust and firm strategic partnership between Egypt and the U.S., with an emphasis on the role of the Congress in strengthening these relations and pushing them to broader horizons, especially in light of the multiple challenges at the regional and international levels, the Presidency Spokesman Counsellor Ahmed Fahmy said.
The meeting also discussed cooperation between the two countries in the fields of security and combating terrorism. There was an agreement on the need to bolster joint efforts in this regard. President Sisi emphasised Egypt’s vision with regard to the critical importance of peace and development to dry-up the sources of terrorism and extremism, the Presidency Spokesman said.
He added that the meeting discussed in detail the regional situation, especially in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, President Sisi reviewed the intensified Egyptian efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire and ensure the entry of relief aid, to save more than two million Palestinians from enormous human suffering.
The president also stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities in pressing for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and preventing the escalation of military operations in Rafah, reiterating Egypt’s categorial rejection of any attempt to displace the Palestinians from their lands.
In the same context, members of the US Congressional delegation appreciated the pivotal role played by Egypt to strengthen the foundations of regional security and stability. They also praised the joint coordination between Egypt and the US in various fields, which is reflected positively on the interests of the two countries and the region.
The two sides agreed on the dangers of the expanding the conflict in the region, which threatens regional and international peace and security. They stressed that the two-state solution is the only way to restore and consolidate security and stability in the region.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri received a delegation from US Congress’ Homeland Security Committee headed by Republican Congressman August Pfluger.
Shoukri underlined the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries, and the importance of continuing work to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two sides in all its military and economic aspects, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zaid said.
Shoukri also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to support security and stability in the region, and to overcome the challenges it has suffered for many years, such as terrorism, the threat to the concept of the nation state, and the spread of armed conflicts in the region, Abu Zaid added.
The meeting tackled the Gaza War. Minister Shoukry stressed the importance of an immediate ceasefire, and sustainable and sufficient delivery of aid. He also expressed Egypt’s aspiration that the United States would resume funding to the UNRWA which serves Palestinian refugees in Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Shoukri also affirmed the necessity of implementing Security Council Resolution No. 2720, which gave the United Nations a mandate to facilitate the entry of aid into Gaza.
Minister Shokri equally underlined Egypt’s rejection to any Israeli military operation in Palestinian Rafah as that would incur a humanitarian disaster among over 1.4 million internally displaced Palestinians.
