
Head of International Organisations Department at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office David Concar (Photo: Official Twitter account)
Head of the International Organisations Department at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office David Concar arrived Tuesday in Cairo to "welcome Egypt to the Security Council and underline the UK’s interest in a close partnership with Egypt."
“Building on our strong historic ties and existing close partnership, the UK looks forward to forging a close partnership with Egypt on the Security Council, which will be essential to face today’s global challenges,” the British official said in a statement by the British embassy in Cairo.
Concar met Ambassador Hisham Badr – the assistant to the Egyptian foreign minister – and a number of senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss how the UK and Egypt can work together as Egypt takes up its temporary seat on the UN Security Council for two years.
“I welcome Egypt warmly as it takes up its seat on the Security Council for 2016-17," Concar said. "It is an important regional leader with a strong strategic position in the Arab world and in Africa. It will bring with it depth, knowledge and authority."
The officials discussed issues on the Security Council agenda including counter-terrorism and UN peacekeeping, as well as Libya, Palestine and Syria.
“In particular, membership in the Security Council at this critical moment gives Egypt an opportunity to lead the international community in supporting Libyans form a unified and representative government of national accord, which can take the fight to Daesh (ISIS) and restore peace and stability to the country," Concar said.
Egypt secured a non-permanent UN Security Council seat for the fifth time with 179 votes.
Egypt has been a non-permanent member of the council four times in 1949-1950, 1961-1962, 1984 and 1996-1997.
Short link: