CAIRO- Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attended Monday, via video conference, a meeting with several African presidents to probe the African initiative to mediate in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
The meeting saw the participation of Comorian President Azali Assoumani, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
During the meeting, the African leaders discussed the details of the African initiative to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, said Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.
It is in the interest of Africa to put an end to this conflict, given its grave consequences on the African countries and the rest of world countries in several vital sectors, including food and energy security and international finance, the spokesman quoted the African leaders as affirming during the meeting.
President Sisi, meanwhile, voiced hope that the African initiative would contribute to settling the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Egypt has adopted a balanced approach since the beginning of the conflict, President Sisi said.
President Sisi further affirmed that Egypt has underlined the necessity of respecting international law, settling disputes by peaceful means, giving priority to the language of dialogue, and mobilizing international efforts to reach a solution that takes into account the concerns of all parties in order to attain international peace and security.
Egypt will spare no effort in order to contribute to containing such crisis and overcoming its political, humanitarian and economic consequences, he made it clear.
The meeting also underlined the need of continuing efforts in order to push forward the African initiative through crystalizing the necessary mechanisms to encourage a positive response from the Russian and Ukrainian sides during the upcoming period, said the spokesman.