Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri stressed that there has been a great development in the Egyptian-Greek relations over the course of nine years, referring to the existing contacts between the two countries at all levels, which show the extent of the development of bilateral relations.
At a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendiasin Athens yesterday, Shoukri said that discussions are always characterised by transparency and credibility.
“We talk without restrictions because the interests are common and the politics are homogeneous and our goals are consistent with achieving stability and peace in the region,” the Egyptian foreign minister said.
“Our pursuit is to achieve the interests and prosperity of our peoples, and to find means of cooperation that realise this,” he added.
Shoukri also said that there is intensive joint work to strengthen the relationship between the two countries at the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian levels.
He added that this is an important relationship based on solid foundations and rules of the existing historical contacts between the two peoples.
The minister also said that the relationship between the two countries is strategic areas of political, security, military and economic cooperation and the common desire to continue working to strengthen this relationship.
Foreign Minister Shoukri also added that Egypt and Greece aimto enhance cooperation in several fields, which include electrical interconnection between the two countries, and through Greece to the European continent, and to benefit from the momentum generated by COP27 conference, which was held in Egypt.
This comes in addition to the increasing reliance on new, renewable and clean energy within the framework of maintaing low temperature of the planet and preserving it for future generations.
He also referred to the East Mediterranean Gas Forum and the diversity it provides for energy sources, which is considered one of the important areas within the framework of relations between Cairo and Athens.
He expressed his pride in the tripartite Egyptian, Greek and Cypriot relationship and what was achieved through successive summits in defining the scope of cooperation and projects that are in the interest of the three peoples.
Foreign Minister Shoukry said the situation in Libya is stressful and Egypt hopes that Libya would restore its unity, stability and full sovereignty to face its challenges through a Libyan-
Libyan consensus.
Shoukri stressed that Egypt has made, through its communication with all Libyan parties, successive achievements, expressing hope that they will eventually lead to free and fair
elections that bring a government that represents the will of the Libyan people and preserves its
capabilities.
As for the situation in Syria, Shoukri said that Syria is of interest to Egypt and that Egypt seeks to maintain positive relations with all countries in the region.
“We also interacted well with Turkey’s desire to normalize relations, and there is a visit to Ankara within two days to continue the path,” he added.
The foreign minister added that this normalisation is established on good neighborliness, mutual respect, non-interference in domestic affairs, achieving peace and stability and distancing from
any actions that disturb peace of the region.
He noted that the existing cooperation with Greece on the military and security level would enhance joint ability to face all these challenges.
He added that based on this, the relationship can be raised to broader horizons, indicating that this is what Egypt aspires to, and that this relationship remains strategic and humanitarian.
