Egypt's FM Sameh Shoukry and US secretary of State John Kerry in Washington (Photo: US Department of State)
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met Wednesday US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington. The two discussed a number of issues, foremost among them regional development in Syria, Libya and Yemen, the Egyptian foreign ministry announced.
In a statement issued Thursday, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abuzeid stated that the talks included joint evaluation and coordination on the situations in those countries.
Shoukry is currently in Washington to attend the Nuclear Security Summit.
According to Abuzeid, Shoukry discussed with Kerry the political process in Syria and enforcing the ceasefire there, as well as ways to support the national unity government in Libya, especially in fighting terrorism.
Kerry and Shoukry also evaluated progress in Yemeni talks held under UN sponsorship.
The Egyptian foreign minister discussed with Kerry bilateral relations between Egypt and the United States.
Kerry reportedly underlined the importance of "easing restrictions on association and expression" in Egypt and "allowing human rights NGOs to operate freely," according to a brief statement issued by the US State Department Wednesday.
Shoukry also met in Washington David Thorne, senior advisor to US secretary of state for economic affairs, where they discussed different aspects of Egyptian-US economic and commercial relations, the Egyptian foreign ministry stated.
"The meeting reflected the American desire to help and support Egypt amid different economic challenges," Abuzeid said, adding that Throne stressed that it is in the US interest to support and enforce Egypt's ability to face economic challenges.
Shoukry discussed with Thorne the various economic projects and programmes Egypt is currently implementing, including the Suez Canal Area Development Project, and national infrastructure projects.
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