Egypt and Russia Discuss Maritime Security and Freedom of International Trade
Cairo, Sept. 23 (KUNA) -- Egypt and Russia discussed maritime security and the freedom of international trade on Wednesday, reaffirming the importance of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity, adhering to international law, supporting political and diplomatic solutions to crises, and continuing coordination and consultation between the two countries in international forums.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that these discussions took place during a meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The statement noted that the meeting addressed ways to enhance bilateral relations, as well as a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, particularly in Sudan and Libya, and developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
It added that the two ministers exchanged views and assessments on the rapid developments in the region, emphasizing the importance of continued consultation and coordination between the two countries to support efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions, containing crises, and reaching sustainable political settlements for existing issues and conflicts, thereby contributing to enhancing regional security and stability.
Regarding the latest developments in the Palestinian cause, Minister Abdelatty reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian issue to achieving peace and security in the Middle East, stressing the importance of supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the basis of the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
On the level of bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Russia, the statement quoted the two ministers as expressing pride in the strategic partnership linking the two countries. They pointed to the importance of the meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during the BRICS summit held this September, which reflected their mutual commitment to continuing to elevate bilateral relations, strengthen frameworks for common cooperation, and build upon the steps agreed upon during the meeting to advance cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
In this context, the two ministers emphasized their shared commitment to continuing to develop economic, trade, and investment cooperation, as well as advancing existing strategic projects, foremost among them the Zuccari nuclear power plant project and the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, and revitalizing tourism and air traffic between the two countries.
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