OPEN// FM asserts Egypt's continued support for Lebanon

Middle East

2 days ago

CAIRO, June 2 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's continued support for Lebanon and its government and national institutions.
He expressed Egypt's total rejection of any infringement upon Lebanon's sovereignty or territorial integrity, stressing the need to implement the ceasefire agreement and ensure the full and immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, as well as the comprehensive enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 by all parties, without selectivity.
The minister's remarks were made during a meeting on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which the two ministers held political consultations on bilateral ties and regional developments, including the situation in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, in addition to maritime security in the Red Sea and the ongoing US–Iran negotiations.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tamim Khallaf said that the Egyptian-Iranian consultations also covered the latest developments in the Gaza Strip.
Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's intensive efforts, in cooperation with Qatar and the United States, to resume the ceasefire agreement, facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and drum up international support for recognizing the Palestinian state, based on the two-state solution.
Shifting to Syria, Abdelatty stressed Egypt's full commitment to supporting the Syrian people, and respecting the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria.
Syria should be a source of stability in the region, Abdelatty said, calling for launching a comprehensive political process that includes all segments of the Syrian society to overcome this critical phase.
The consultations also addressed developments in the Red Sea. In this regard, Abdelatty underlined the importance of safeguarding the freedom of navigation, and the dire need to restore calm to the region.
The foreign minister welcomed the anticipated positive impact of the recent agreement in Yemen with the United States on maritime security and international trade movement in the Red Sea.
Minister Abdelatty listened to his Iranian counterpart's assessment of the outcomes of the five rounds of negotiations between Iran and the US on the Iranian nuclear program.
He expressed hope that these negotiations would be successfully concluded, leading to a comprehensive and sustainable peaceful settlement that would contribute to defusing tensions, promoting calm, and preventing further escalation and instability in the region. (MENA)
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