Egypt and Saudi Arabia called for continuing political coordination and consultation to face bilateral and regional challenges, especially in light of the two countries’ leading role in preserving the region’s stability, which in turn contributes to attaining sustainable development for all regional countries.
This call came in the final communiqué issued on Thursday at the conclusion of the fifth session of the joint political follow-up committee in the Saudi capital Riyadh, with the participation of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The two sides agreed on the significance of maintaining Egyptian and Saudi efforts to support the region’s security and stability.
The statement stressed the keenness of Egypt and Saudi Arabia to enhance prospects for bilateral cooperation in all fields, especially in light of the historical bonds and fraternal relations between the two countries.
According to the statement, the two parties reviewed the distinguished Egyptian-Saudi relations in different areas, lauding the growing cooperation in the political, economic, security and cultural fields, in a way that strengthens the two countries’ security and stability, as well as backs the interests of their peoples.
The statement affirmed that the two countries share identical views on several regional and global crises, which shows the profound strategic relations and serious political will to bring about stability to the region.
The communiqué noted that the Saudi foreign minister congratulated his Egyptian counterpart on the successful hosting of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh in November 2022, which demonstrated Egypt’s ability to put forward new ideas and communicate with all countries that took part in this important event.
The two sides commended the joint efforts to ensure the success of the second edition of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit that was held in Sharm El Sheikh.
Shoukry congratulated Faisal bin Farhan on Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Jeddah Security and Development Summit in July 2022, as well as the First China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh that reflected the Kingdom’s crucial role in the Middle East and the world.
The Egyptian foreign minister said Egypt looks forward to working closely with Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the 32nd regular session of the Arab League Summit.
The statement pointed out that the two sides discussed the regional situation, affirming the Arab national security is indivisible.
They called for advancing joint Arab action and Arab solidarity to preserve the Arab national security.
The two parties also stressed their rejection of any attempts by regional forces to interfere in Arab states’ internal affairs, threaten their stability or undermine the interests of their peoples, the communiqué said.
Both sides agreed to continue combating terrorist organizations in the region.
The Egyptian and Saudi foreign ministers reiterated their support of the Palestinian cause for being the Arab nation’s central issue, asserting the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive Middle East solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people to have an independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Meanwhile, the two sides welcomed the signing of a framewoek deal between Sudanese parties to solve the country’s political crisis.
The two top diplomats underlined the significance of supporting the Sudanese political and security conditions, based on the firm conviction that the security and prosperity of Sudan is an integral part of the security and stability of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The Egyptian and Saudi top diplomats expressed their backing of the joint efforts aimed at establishing tripartite cooperation mechanisms with African countries, especially in light of the political will of the two countries’ leaderships to move forward in this regard.
The two parties underlined that Iran should abide by its commitments under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), in a way that prevents Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while making sure the Iranian nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
They urged Iran not to interfere in Arab states’ internal affairs and adhere to the principles of good neighborliness, in addition to sparing the region all destabilizing activities, including stopping support for armed militias and threats to maritime navigation and international trade routes.
Both sides underscored the significance of strengthening the International Atomic Energy Agency’s role and maintaining the non-proliferation regime.
On that score, the two foreign ministers emphasized the importance of supporting the efforts aimed at establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, in a way that contributes to attaining regional and international peace and stability.
In their joint statement, Saudi Arabia and Egypt denounced any attempts to infringe on the security and safety of navigation movement in the Arabian Gulf, Bab El Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, asserting the importance of enhancing joint cooperation to secure the vital naval corridors and stand against any attempts which threaten regional and international security and stability.
The two sides also reiterated their full support for UN and international efforts to extend the truce and reach a comprehensive political agreement for the crisis in Yemen in accordance with the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcome of the Yemeni national dialogue and the UN Resolution No.2216 for the Year 2015.
The Egyptian side, on its part, praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts and its initiatives aimed at propelling the dialogue among Yemeni parties and backing the truce which is part of the Kingdom’s initiative declared in March 2021 to end the crisis in Yemen and ease the dispatch and delivery of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people along with backing the country’s economic and development projects.
The two sides also expressed their deep worry over the Houthi militias continued attacks on the global navigation routes in a way that negatively affects the global energy security and stability of its supplies.
As for the Libyan crisis is concerned, the two countries affirmed their full support to the realization of a Libyan-Libya solution under the auspices of the UN, pressing the need for halting any foreign interference in Libya’s affairs and rejecting any outside dictations on the Libyan people.
They also praised the role of the Libyan parliament and the Libyan state in fulfilling all frameworks that allow Libya to move forward towards a better future, highlighting the agreement between the Libyan parliament and the State Council on referring the constitutional document to the two houses for approval. They asserted the necessity of completing all relevant measures to approve the election law and its executive measures to unite the state foundations, terming it as an important step towards holding the presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.
The Saudi side also praised Egypt’s hosting of the Libyan constitutional track meetings in coordination with the United Nations.
In this context, Egypt and Saudi Arabia reiterated their backing for the (5+5) joint military committee, calling for implementing the decisions about the departure of foreign troops and mercenaries from Libya within a specific timeframe along with dissolving the militias in implementation of the relevant UN resolutions, Berlin conference and Paris agreement in a way that restores the unity and territorial integrity of Libya and preserves its sovereignty.
The Saudi side, in the joint statement, reiterated its full support for Egypt’s water security as it is part and parcel of the Arab national security and voiced its full solidarity with the measures taken by Egypt to protect its national security, calling on Ethiopia not to take any unilateral action on filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and to shoulder the responsibility and have the political will necessary to reach a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam in implementation of UN Statement issued in September, 2021, which supports Ethiopia’s development goals and at the same time calls for preventing any harm to Egypt and Sudan.
Meanwhile, Egypt and Saudi Arabia affirmed the importance of backing Iraq to restore its normal position as a cornerstone of stability in the Arab region and to continue its fight against terrorism along with preserving the national state and its institutions. They also rejected any interference in Iraq’s internal affairs and pressed the necessity of preserving its security and border safety, welcoming the election of a new president and the formation of a new government that could open the door for rebuilding Iraq.
The two sides also agreed on supporting the independence of Syria and unity of its territories, stressing the necessity of helping it in combating terrorism, the return of refugees and displaced people along with working out a political solution for its crisis in accordance with UNSC Resolution No.2254. They also backed the UN efforts to push forward the political process in Syria and address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.
In this context, the two countries reiterated their rejection for any military threats that infringe on the Syrian territories and intimidate its people.
They also underlined the importance of protecting the security and stability of Lebanon, calling on political powers in the country to shoulder their responsibilities to preserve the nation’s interests and accelerate moves aimed to fill the presidential vacuum and continue the relevant constitutional duties which could meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people in order to reach a political stability and introduce an economic reform program that helps in overcoming the tough challenges facing Lebanon.
The two sides also discussed the world’s geopolitical conditions and the global economic crisis’ impact on the regional and international levels. They also agreed on increasing the pace of bilateral economic cooperation and strengthening inter-Arab action to enhance the ability of the Arab states to overcome various challenges.
MENA
