CAIRO – 21 June 2021: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry underscored Sunday the importance of paving the way for reviving the Middle East peace process, aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state.
The Palestinian state should be established on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and according to the UN resolutions, to reach a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, Shoukry said during his meeting with EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East Peace Process Sven Koopmans at the Foreign Ministry HQ.
Shoukry extended greetings to Koopmans for assuming his new post, and expressed his desire for continued cooperation between Egypt and EU in the coming period for pushing the peace process forward, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said.
Shoukry briefed Koopmans on Egypt’s efforts to cement the ceasefire in Gaza, amid efforts of reconstruction of the besieged enclave.
For his part, Koopmans praised Egypt’s key role, aimed at building peace and security in the Middle East, which were capped by reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, in addition to its efforts to bring about the Palestinian reconciliation process.
On Friday, Shoukry received a phone call from Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. During the call, Shoukry congratulated Lapid, on his new post.
The Egyptian minister stressed the need to break the deadlock between the Palestinians and Israelis to launch a comprehensive negotiating process, in a manner that ensures the consolidation of the pillars of stability in the region.
He added that Egypt will continue its role in supporting all efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Egyptian top diplomat also stressed the need to prevent any escalation between the two sides, which threatens to exacerbate the situation and push forward reconstruction efforts and development support for all parts of the Palestinian territories.
Cairo is keen to move with practical and serious steps towards achieving security and stability for all the peoples of the region, he added.
On May 20, Cairo succeeded to secure ceasefire in Gaza after strikes caused the destruction of more than 200 residential units in Gaza Strip and 31 educational establishments, including schools, colleges, and vocational training centers. According to the United Nations, 40,000 Palestinians got displaced – mainly from the North to the South – while 2,500 lost their homes.
Wed, Jun. 23, 2021
