President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received on Monday UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss international co-operation, the Palestinian cause, regional developments and reform of the UN system.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs Badr Abdelatty.
Attendees from the UN side included Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Martin Kimani; UN Resident Co-ordinator in Egypt, Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro; Director of the Political Affairs, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Affairs and Human Rights Unit in the Office of the Secretary-General, Emad Aziz Sedrak; Senior Political Affairs Officer in the Office of the Secretary-General, Aguinaldo Baptista, and Head of the UN Liaison Office to the League of Arab States, Ms Tamara Al-Zayyat.
President Sisi welcomed Guterres and commended his efforts since 2017 to uphold multilateralism, international peace and security, sustainable development and humanitarian action, particularly his support for the Palestinian cause.
The president further reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to the UN Charter, highlighting its contributions to peacekeeping and its hosting of numerous UN offices and agencies.
He stressed the need for peaceful conflict resolution and comprehensive Security Council reform, including enhanced African representation.
For his part, the UN chief expressed gratitude for Egypt’s sustained support for the UN and praised its role in regional peace efforts.
Guterres also commended Egypt’s efforts to consolidate the Gaza ceasefire and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
A lasting peace in the Middle East necessitates a just settlement of the Palestinian cause.
He voiced grave concern over developments in the West Bank and called for international action to end violations against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The secretary-general also lauded Egypt’s efforts to prevent escalation in the Gulf, and expressed hope for understandings safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran’s nuclear programme peacefully.
He pledged to support efforts to prevent renewed conflict.
Meanwhile, the talks touched on developments in the Horn of Africa, Sudan and Libya, as the two sides underscored the importance of resolving conflicts through peaceful means and respecting the principles of international law.
The meeting also saw a shared emphasis on the need to move forward with reforming the UN system, including the Security Council, to enhance its representativeness and fairness and strengthen its ability to respond effectively to contemporary international challenges and crises.
