CAIRO, Aug 25 (MENA) – Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates’ Affairs Badr Abdelatty held bilateral consultations Monday with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah.
The talks covered various aspects of bilateral relations as well as regional developments of mutual concern.
Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the current momentum in Egypt–Turkey relations, as this year marks the centenary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
They agreed on the importance of building on the outcomes of the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council, held in Istanbul in September 2024, as well as the recent visit of the Turkish foreign minister to New Alamein in August.
They stressed the importance of advancing work to activate bilateral cooperation mechanisms, particularly by preparing for the inaugural meeting of the Joint Planning Group in the near future, thereby strengthening the institutional framework of the Egyptian–Turkish partnership. They also reaffirmed their anticipation of the second session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, to be co-chaired by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s aspiration to boost Turkish investment in the Egyptian market and to work toward the shared goal of raising bilateral trade to $15 billion within the next five years, in light of the promising opportunities and investment incentives Egypt offers.
On the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, both ministers reaffirmed their rejection of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, stressing the need for effective intervention to halt the aggression. They condemned in the strongest terms Israel’s policies of starvation and systematic killing of civilians, describing them as blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law. They also denounced Israel’s expansionist settlement plans in the West Bank and its continued violations in the occupied territories.
Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s efforts, coordinated with Qatar, to secure a ceasefire, stressing the need to intensify pressure on Israel to accept the proposed deal, particularly after Hamas announced its approval.
He underscored the importance of unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, noting that Egypt has provided 70% of all humanitarian assistance that entered Gaza, while more than 5,000 trucks loaded with relief and medical supplies remain stranded at the border due to Israeli restrictions.
The two ministers also exchanged views on several priority regional issues, including developments in Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa.
Abdelatty stressed the importance of maintaining the unity and territorial integrity of these states and their national institutions, while expressing hope for closer coordination and joint action to advance political solutions, foster development, and achieve security and stability. (MENA)
