Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdel-Aati met on Sunday with Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, as part of ongoing consultations between Egypt and the United States on a range of regional issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Abdel-Aati reaffirmed the deep-rooted Egypt-US strategic partnership and the shared commitment of both sides to further strengthening bilateral co-operation across a wide range of fields, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tamim Khallaf said.
The two officials also exchanged views on the latest regional developments.
Abdel-Aati outlined Egypt’s efforts to support Sudan’s security and stability while preserving its unity, sovereignty and national institutions.
He stressed the importance of reaching a sustainable ceasefire, scaling up humanitarian assistance, and advancing a comprehensive Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political process that safeguards the country’s unity and fulfils the aspirations of its people for security, stability and development.
The meeting also addressed developments in Libya, with Abdel-Aati reaffirming Egypt’s longstanding support for the country’s unity and stability and the preservation of its national institutions.
He underscored the need for a comprehensive political settlement through a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process that would pave the way for the simultaneous holding of presidential and parliamentary elections at the earliest opportunity.
The two sides also exchanged views on international efforts to advance the political process in Libya. Abdel-Aati reaffirmed Egypt’s support for all UN, regional and international initiatives, including those led by the United States, aimed at achieving a lasting political settlement that preserves Libya’s unity and fulfils the aspirations of its people.
The talks also covered developments in the Horn of Africa. Abdel-Aati stressed the importance of preserving peace and stability in the region, describing it as a direct extension of Egypt’s national security.
He reiterated the need to support national institutions, respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of regional states, and reject any measures or policies that could undermine regional stability.
On water security, Abdel-Aati underscored the importance of adhering to international law governing the use of transboundary water resources in a manner that serves the interests of all Nile Basin countries.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, stressing that water security remains an existential issue for Egypt.
For his part, Boulos commended Egypt’s role in promoting security and stability across the region, stressing the importance of continued co-ordination and consultations with Cairo on regional issues to advance shared interests and contribute to regional peace and stability.
