Egypt Daily News – Dr. Badr Abdel Ati, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, met with Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, February 13th, in Paris.
Ambassador Tameem Khalaf, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Abdel Atty praised the distinguished bilateral relations between Egypt and France, as well as the strong ties between the two friendly countries. He also highlighted the mutual commitment to enhancing cooperation in various fields. On his part, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed the greetings of President Emmanuel Macron to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The two ministers discussed ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and encourage French investments in Egypt. Minister Abdel Atty reviewed the measures Egypt has taken in recent years to attract foreign investments, develop infrastructure, logistics, roads, tunnels, ports, as well as the telecommunications and energy sectors. He also highlighted the development of policies to improve the business environment and empower the private sector.
The two ministers also exchanged views on regional developments. Minister Abdel Atty reviewed Egypt’s efforts to solidify the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, including all its provisions and three-phase timeline, and to ensure the flow of humanitarian and relief aid into the sector. He emphasized the importance of initiating early recovery and reconstruction efforts, with Palestinians remaining on their land, and stressed the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution to achieve peace in the region.
The meeting also addressed developments in Syria, where Minister Abdel Atty affirmed Egypt’s support for the Syrian people, the necessity of respecting Syria’s territorial integrity and unity, and the importance of launching a political process that does not exclude any component of Syrian society.
The discussions also covered developments in the Sahel, and Somalia. The Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of supporting security, stability, and counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel region, as well as the need to respect the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia.
Minister Abdel Atty also presented Egypt’s position on the issue of water security, emphasizing the firm stance on the necessity of reaching a legally binding agreement for the operation of the dam without infringing on the rights of downstream states, and in a way that achieves the common interests of all parties involved.
