Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his visiting Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov have praised deep relations between their countries at all levels.
Emerging from bilateral talks earlier Sunday, the two top diplomats held a press conference to review fields of economic cooperation, as well as joint projects between the two sides.
Shoukry told reporters the meeting also took up international developments, with focus on the situation in Ukraine.
He reiterated Egypt’s call for a diplomatic solution based on dialogue and ending of military operations.
Shoukry made it clear that the Ukrainian crisis has spilled over into Egypt, especially where food and energy security is concerned.
The meeting also tackled the Palestinian cause and the importance of reaching a two-state solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Shoukry told the press conference.
Shoukry reminded Lavrov of the lawful rights of the Palestinian people and their right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Shoukry said he and Lavrov also discussed the Libyan crisis and the situation in Syria and Iraq. He stressed that Cairo and Moscow are coordinating stances with the aim to achieve regional and international stability.
Lavrov, for his part, talked about the partnership between his country and Egypt, noting that the volume of trade exchange has increased by four billion dollars, i.e. about five percent.
He told reporters that the Dabaa project is progressing well, adding that constructive talks are ongoing between the two sides where the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) is concerned.
Lavrov also unveiled a big deal to deliver railway carriages to Egypt in cooperation with Hungary.
He touched upon what he called “big humanitarian cooperation” between Egypt and Russia, noting that the two sides will soon be marking a year of bilateral cooperation.
Asked about the Arab-Israeli conflict, Lavrov told reporters that an independent Palestinian state needs to be established on the pre-1967 borders, and all relevant UN Security Council resolutions need to be implemented.
Lavrov also called for UN support for a settlement in Libya and international action to reach a solution to the Syrian crisis. The Arab League should play a role in such settlement, the top diplomat stressed.
Lavrov said a “Russia-Africa” summit could be held as early as mid-2023.
Asked about Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, Lavrov said Moscow has no map to resume talks at an expanded level between leaders of both sides.
There won’t be any negotiations until Kiev convinces Moscow that Washington and London won’t interfere, Lavrov told reporters.
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