Egypt FM says working with Jordan, Iraq to achieve stability in Mideast

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Wednesday that Egypt, Jordan and Iraq are acting to boost co-operation to achieve stability in the Middle East.

In a press conference following a tripartite summit with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman al-Safadi and Iraq’s Fouad Hussein, Shoukry said they talked about intensifying joint Arab action.

Indeed, co-operation among the three countries contributes to achieving security and stability in the region, the Egyptian top diplomat said.

He thanked Jordan for hosting this summit.

Speaking alongside Shoukry, Jordan’s Safadi told reporters that his country and Egypt stand by the side of Iraq in its efforts to achieve security and stability.

Safadi said he is looking forward to enhancing co-operation and coordination with the new Iraqi government.

For his part, Iraqi foreign minister Hussein said the trilateral co-operation mechanism with Egypt and Jordan is meant to boost joint action among the three countries in the fields of trade, industry, economy, land transport, power linkage and energy.

Shoukry highlighted the three-way mechanism aimed at enhancing Egypt, Jordan and Iraq relations based on existing integration and looming economic opportunities to coordinate and exchange views pertaining to regional issues, with a view to realizing stability and interests of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

According to the Egyptian foreign minster, thanks to the political leadership of the three countries’, the foreign ministers are working on fostering relations, along with discovering co-operation scopes between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq that would serve their peoples’ interests.

Shoukry asserted continued coordination among the three countries, along with unwavering support to Iraq.

Meantime, Shoukry congratulated the Iraqi side for the progress achieved so far on the political process, affirming keenness on
working toward realising Iraq’s stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity; being a key factor of joint Arab action and a pillar for regional stability.

Talks also took up cooperation domains between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, along with measures adopted to put into effect all agreed upon points, he said.

Coordination will continue ahead, he added, noting that the upcoming meeting will be held in Iraq, with participation of ministers concerned with joints projects to be set up between the three countries.

He also pointed out that Egypt, Jordan and Iraq would face a number of challenges within the upcoming stage, pertaining to geostrategic and economic implications triggered by the Russia-Ukrainian crisis, as well as the food and energy security issues, that all necessitate a trilateral co-operation mechanism to face up to all challenges.