By Manal Abdel Fattah
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and Director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Mr. Sameh Shukri met upon his arrival in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, today, Thursday, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea, Othman Saleh, where the two ministers held a discussion session prior to Minister Shukri’s meeting with the President. Eritrean Isaias Afwerki.
At the beginning of the discussions, the two ministers were keen to emphasize their pride in the depth and solidity of Egyptian-Eritrean relations over the decades, and their determination to continue working together in order to advance them to broad horizons of cooperation and solidarity and to achieve the common interests of the Egyptian and Eritrean peoples.
Ambassador Abu Zeid revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed in detail the existing and proposed cooperation programs and projects between the two sides, and a joint action plan was agreed upon to follow up on the implementation of these projects, which include the areas of infrastructure, health, training, fisheries, and other areas of common interest.
The official spokesman stated that the meeting discussed the current situation in the Horn of Africa region, and ways to deal with the challenges associated with it at various levels, where Minister Shukry stressed the great interest Egypt attaches to the stability of the region and its follow-up of current developments, expressing full Egyptian support for all efforts. Aiming to enhance peace and security in this region, which represents a fundamental pillar of regional and continental security.
The discussions also touched on a number of important regional issues, most notably the situation in the Gaza Strip, where Minister Shukri stressed the necessity of reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and the importance of the necessary humanitarian aid entering the Strip, pointing to the dangers of expanding the conflict in the region. The discussions also dealt with developments in the current situation in Sudan and its danger to the stability of this brotherly country and the interests of the Sudanese people. Shukri stressed the important and pivotal role played by the mechanism of Sudan’s neighboring countries in dealing with the crisis and discussing ways to get out of it and the possibility of reaching a settlement that guarantees the preservation of the unity, safety and stability of Sudan and its brotherly people.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that the Eritrean Foreign Minister stressed, for his part, his welcome for the completion of that visit, and his keenness to support and strengthen the relations of brotherhood and solidarity between the two countries. He also expressed his interest in continuing consultations with the Egyptian side on various issues related to the African continent and the Horn of Africa region in particular, noting that the history of Egyptian-Eritrean relations dictates that the two countries strengthen the bonds of cooperation between them.
Abu Zeid concluded his statements, noting that the two foreign ministers agreed to continue coordination in regional and international forums, and to continue consultation during the next phase to develop agreed upon frameworks to confront the various challenges.
