EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attends the Cyprus peace talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Thursday, July 6, 2017 AP
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has expressed the EU’s solidarity with Egypt in its war against terrorism following the Friday attack by militants in North Sinai that killed or injured 26 army personnel.
Mogherini said in a phone call with Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry on Sunday that the EU supports Cairo’s vision that eradicating terrorism necessitates putting an end to financial and ideological support for terrorists.
On Friday, car bombs targeted a security checkpoint near Rafah in North Sinai, with the army killing 40 militants in subsequent operations, the army said in a statement.
The phone call between Shoukry and Mogherini also tackled the latest developments on the diplomatic situation with Qatar, with Shoukry telling the EU representative that the four Arab countries leading the boycott against Doha are determined to push the small Gulf country to change its policies of financing terrorism.
Last week, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates pledged new measures against Doha following the small Gulf country’s refusal of their initial list of 13 demands to resolve the crisis.
Last month, the four Arab states severed diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar, accusing the oil-rich Gulf state of supporting terrorism and maintaining close ties with Iran. Doha has denied the accusations.
Mogherini and Shoukry also reviewed the preparations for the meeting between Egypt and the European Union to be held later this month to strengthen Egyptian-European relations in the coming period.
Short link: