Egypt has reaffirmed its full support for reforming the United Nations and developing its working mechanisms to strengthen its ability to address regional and international challenges and maintain international peace and security, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Monday.
He also stressed the need to enhance African representation on the UN Security Council and promote greater fairness in global governance.
Abdelatty made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting UN Secretary-General António Guterres following talks that addressed key regional and international issues, including the Palestinian cause, developments in Sudan and Libya, efforts to prevent regional escalation, UN reform and support for development in Africa.
Referring to earlier talks between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Guterres, Abdelatty said the discussions had covered developments in the Palestinian cause, efforts to contain regional tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading, as well as the situations in Sudan and Libya.
Sisi praised Guterres’ positions, particularly on the Palestinian cause, saying the UN chief had voiced the concerns of the region’s peoples and defended humanitarian principles and international law amid escalating crises, the foreign minister said.
Abdelatty highlighted the importance of the UN secretary-general’s role in addressing international issues and stressed the need to uphold international law amid mounting global challenges.
The discussions covered two main aspects of UN reform: supporting international peace and stability, and restructuring the global economic system to address existing imbalances and promote greater fairness in international relations.
Abdelatty said Egypt supported Guterres’ vision for UN reform and the implementation of his reform agenda to improve the organisation’s efficiency and strengthen its response to regional and international crises.
He also called for a more effective political role for the United Nations, enabling it to prevent and resolve conflicts and reinforce respect for international law.
The foreign minister said Sisi had stressed the need to address the historical injustice suffered by Africa and correct imbalances in representation within international institutions.
He underscored the importance of expanding African representation on the Security Council in line with the continent’s weight and standing, ensuring that the voices and interests of African peoples were taken into account in decisions on international peace and security.
Reforming the Security Council, he added, was central to broader UN reform and would strengthen the organisation’s credibility and make it more representative of the international community.
Abdelatty said the talks had also addressed ways to provide concessional financing to African countries and support development efforts across the continent amid mounting economic and financial challenges.
He stressed the need to improve international financing mechanisms and facilitate developing countries’ access to the resources required for development projects, higher living standards and greater economic and social stability.
Achieving sustainable development in Africa, he added, required more effective international support and reform of international financial and economic institutions to reflect the needs and priorities of developing countries.
The foreign minister also said the discussions had covered a project to establish a UN headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, noting Guterres’ appreciation for the Egyptian government’s efforts in this regard.
Abdelatty concluded by stressing that Egypt would continue to co-ordinate with the UN on regional and international issues and support institutional and economic reform to strengthen the organisation’s role in maintaining international peace and security and advancing development and stability.
