Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed in a phone call Wednesday with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio a number of issues of mutual interest, including the coronavirus pandemic, the crisis in Libya, the Giulio Regeni case, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Shoukry and Di Maio agreed on the importance of boosting cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic field, and discussed ways of increasing efforts to contain the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement.

The ministers also discussed the case of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni, “in light of the high importance both Egypt and Italy attach to continuing the ongoing cooperation between their two judicial authorities during the coming period in order to elucidate facts,” Hafez added.

The ministers tackled as well the latest developments in Libya, highlighting the importance of reaching a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis among the Libyan parties, and rejecting foreign intervention.

They also agreed on supporting efforts to counter terrorist and extremist organisations in Libya, and combating the transfer of terrorist elements and fighters to the country through implementing the EU’s crisis management operation, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, while respecting the state's sovereignty, and in accordance with its mandate and relevant Security Council resolutions.

Hafez added that the two ministers also tackled the latest developments in the GERD crisis. He explained that Shoukry briefed his Italian counterpart on the outcome of the negotiations track, and Egypt’s willingness to resume negotiations, stressing the importance of avoiding unilateral action ahead of reaching a settlement on the issue.