UNRWA work in Palestine is indispensable: Egypt FM at Geneva Centre for Security Policy - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly

28-01-2025

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty said on Tuesday that the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is indispensable in the Palestinian territories.
This came in a panel discussion on regional and international developments organized by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP).
According to the Egyptian embassy in Bern, FM Abdelatty presented a comprehensive strategic vision outlining Egypt's stance on regional geopolitical dynamics and broader security and stability concerns.
Minister Abdelatty highlighted Egypt's pivotal role, alongside Qatar and the United States, in brokering a ceasefire agreement and facilitating the exchange of captives and prisoners between Israel and Hamas.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that all parties adhere to the agreement's terms and phases, expressing hope that the deal helps alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and enable unhindered humanitarian aid to reach the whole strip swiftly.
The Egyptian foreign minister emphasized that sustainable peace can only be achieved through a political solution based on the two-state solution.
He reiterated Egypt's firm position on the need for an independent, contiguous Palestinian state along the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the necessity of treating the West Bank and Gaza as an indivisible entity.
Minister Abdelatty also discussed developments in Syria, reaffirming Egypt's unwavering support for the Syrian people.
He stressed the importance of preserving Syria's national institutions, territorial integrity, and sovereignty and called for the launch of an inclusive political process that embraces all components of Syrian society and reflects its diversity.
Turning to Lebanon, the foreign minister welcomed recent political progress, including electing President Joseph Aoun and appointing Nawaf Salam as prime minister-designate, following more than two years of a presidential vacuum.
He described these developments as crucial steps towards strengthening Lebanon's national institutions and urged the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including the complete withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese territories.
Unprecedented challenges!
Minister Abdelatty addressed the unprecedented challenges Egypt faces amid regional instability.
He reviewed Egypt's economic burdens, particularly disruptions to navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to regional stability and criticized the policy of double standards, stressing that military solutions cannot resolve the region's crises.
He warned against the lack of trust in multilateralism, international humanitarian law, and human rights while rejecting polarization and advocating for cooperation among nations and geographical blocs — one of the cornerstone principles of Egypt's foreign policy.
The minister also called for reevaluating the structure of international organizations to make them more inclusive and reflective of the concerns of developing nations.
He cited the need to reform the UN Security Council and expand its membership, as well as restructuring the global financial system to better serve the needs of developing countries.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of creating a fairer global trade system.
The discussion also touched upon Egypt's stance on developments in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea region, and the country's water security concerns, underscoring the strategic priorities of Egyptian foreign policy in these areas.
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