Cairo: Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, has announced that the country will maintain rigorous diplomatic communications with Qatar, Turkey, and Palestinian factions, including Hamas, in a bid to secure an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as outlined in US President Donald Trump's plan.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty made these comments during a joint press conference with EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka ‚¬Å¡¬¦ uica. He underscored that Egypt's diplomatic endeavors are ongoing and focused on achieving consensus on key issues such as weapons control and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, setting the stage for the implementation of the second phase of Trump's plan.
Abdelatty highlighted Egypt's commitment to fostering positive engagement with arms control proposals, referencing a document provided to Palestinian factions, including Hamas. He also detailed ongoing efforts within a four-party framework involving the United States, Iran, and other nations to maintain progress in negotiations, emphasizing a recent quadrilateral meeting in Cairo.
Regarding cooperation with the European Union, ‚¬Å¡¬¦ uica highlighted resilience, preparedness, and migration as vital components of the Mediterranean Pact, noting the EU's commitment to supporting talent and partnerships. She emphasized Egypt's critical role as a partner for the EU, stating that these efforts are crucial for regional prosperity.
Abdelatty further discussed collaboration with Greece on legal migration, identifying mutual benefits from such initiatives. He also noted that the European Union has allocated £1.8 billion to support Egypt's private sector and investment, stressing the importance of ensuring Egyptian businesses benefit from this financial support.
Abdelatty expressed Egypt's ambition to become a hub for new and renewable energy, citing interest from European and non-EU countries like Norway. Addressing regulatory challenges impacting Egyptian exports to Europe, he called for technical support for renewable energy projects and capacity building.
‚¬Å¡¬¦ uica reiterated the necessity of regional stability to attract European investors, mentioning a potential financing platform worth £10.8 billion to support the green transition. She stressed the importance of a gradual approach to this transition.
Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's regulatory reforms to enhance investment opportunities and reiterated a commitment to bolstering the private sector. On tackling irregular migration, ‚¬Å¡¬¦ uica commended Egypt as an indispensable regional partner, highlighting the EU's dedication to sustaining this partnership and supporting Egypt's efforts in combating irregular migration.