Egyptian Foreign Minister and Lebanese Prime Minister Discuss Bilateral Relations and Regional Developments

Cairo, Sept 16 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Badr Abdelatty and Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam held a telephone conversation on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and developments in the regional situation. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the call covered recent developments in Lebanon and an exchange of views on regional developments, noting that Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Abdelatty, according to the statement, expressed Egypt’s firm rejection of violations and attacks by the Israeli occupation on Lebanese sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territories and the full and non-selective implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. He also reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Lebanese state institutions, foremost among them the Lebanese Armed Forces, enabling them to fulfill their responsibilities and extend state authority over all Lebanese territory. The statement added that the call addressed broader regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions, as well as the implications of developments in the Red Sea for the security and safety of maritime navigation, freedom of international trade, and energy supplies. In this context, Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s diplomatic efforts to prevent the escalation from widening and to spare the region further tension and instability. (End) A.S.M. / M.N.F.