Egypt urges all parties adhere to terms of Gaza ceasefire deal: FM Abdelatty to Belgian PM

Ahmed Mostafa , Monday 20 Jan 2025

Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty emphasized on Monday the importance of promptly implementing the Gaza ceasefire deal, emphasizing that all parties must follow its terms and adhere to the specified phases and timelines.

Egypt


This came during a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Brussels.

The Egyptian top diplomat detailed to the Belgian prime minister Egypt's diligent efforts, in collaboration with Qatar and `the United States, to secure the agreement, which also includes the exchange of captives and prisoners between Hamas and Israel.

According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdelatty urged European Union countries to maintain their support for humanitarian efforts, provide aid to Gaza, and initiate “early recovery” projects to lay the groundwork for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Moreover, the Egyptian foreign minister praised Belgium’s supportive stance on the Palestinian cause.

He reaffirmed that the two-state solution is the only path to achieving lasting peace and ensuring security and stability in the Middle East.

Abdelatty also discussed Egypt's stance on the developments in Syria with the Belgian Prime Minister, highlighting the importance of promoting an inclusive political process that involves all parties while respecting Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Meeting FM Quintin
 

During his visit to Brussels, Egypt's foreign minister also met with senior Belgian and European officials to discuss a range of issues related to critical developments in the Middle East, particularly the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the situation in Syria, and the security of navigation in the Red Sea and Africa.

In a meeting with his Belgian counterpart, Bernard Quintin, Abdelatty outlined Cairo's position on regional crises, stressing the need for increased European support to help Egypt address these challenges.

Quintin shared on X: "Great exchange with my Egyptian counterpart HE Badr Abdelatty. We discussed our excellent bilateral relations, the situation in the Middle East, where I welcomed the ceasefire and Egypt’s key role in recent negotiations, as well as developments in Syria and cooperation in Africa."
 

 

Minister Abdelatty reaffirmed to Quintin Egypt's commitment to signing a cooperation agreement with Belgium to facilitate the regulation of migration through legal and organized channels.

Meeting High Representative Kallas

 

In a separate meeting, FM Abdelatty emphasized to Kaja Kallas, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, that regulating migration is a shared challenge for Egypt and the EU.

He highlighted the need for balanced cooperation that serves both parties' interests and pointed out the significant economic challenges Egypt faces in hosting millions of refugees due to conflicts.

He stressed to Kallas that the evolving situation in the Middle East requires closer coordination between Egypt and the EU and strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership to restore security and stability in the region.



Meeting CEOs
 

Also in Brussels, FM Abdelatty met with Jean Marang, CEO of the Belgian John Cockerill Group, where they discussed Egypt's efforts to create a favourable business environment and support the role of the private sector in the national economy.

He encouraged the Belgian company to increase its investments in Egypt to benefit from the country’s investment incentives and competitive advantages.

FM Abdelatty also highlighted the Egyptian government’s focus on attracting more foreign companies, particularly in the clean and green energy sectors, and projects related to producing and exporting green hydrogen.

During his visit, FM Abdelatty emphasized to Belgian officials Egypt’s commitment to recovering illegally taken antiquities, stressing their historical and cultural significance, and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation from Belgian authorities to facilitate their return, according to the foreign ministry statement.

FM Abdelatty's visit to Belgium, part of a European tour, aims to strengthen cooperation with the EU and follow up on implementing various aspects of the Egypt-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

For the second leg of his trip, Egypt’s top diplomat will travel to Strasbourg, France, home to the headquarters of the European Parliament.

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