Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, at his residence in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty attended the meeting alongside the European ambassador to Egypt; the deputy secretary-general of the European External Action Service (EEAS); and the managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at the EEAS.
At the outset of the meeting, the president expressed his appreciation for the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, emphasizing the importance of enhancing consultation and coordination between the two sides, particularly in political and security fields, serving the interests of both the Middle East region and the European Union alike.
He pointed out that the situation in the Middle East is turbulent, and that Egypt is committed to a balanced and wise policy aimed at consolidating security and stability, away from narrow interests, noting that the past ten years have proven the success of the Egyptian approach, the presidential spokesman said.
The president also clarified that Europe has not been significantly affected by the repercussions of illegal migration, thanks to Egyptian efforts in this field, primarily preventing the departure of illegal migration boats, while Egypt itself hosts nearly ten million foreigners who have fled from their countries that suffer from crises and instability. He stressed that achieving stability in those countries is the optimal way to curb this phenomenon.
During the meeting, the president reviewed Egypt’s efforts to settle crises and achieve stability in a number of countries in the region, said Presidential Spokesman Mohammad El-Shennawi.
Sisi emphasized the necessity of respecting state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the resources of their peoples, and putting an end to external interventions.
For her part, European official Kallas expressed her pleasure at meeting the President, praising the vital role Egypt has played in achieving a ceasefire and stability, not only in Gaza but also in Sudan and other crisis-affected countries.
Regarding the file of illegal migration, Kallas expressed the European Union’s great appreciation for the substantial Egyptian efforts in this field, affirming that the Union’s position is based on supporting stability and development in migration-exporting countries.
The official spokesperson mentioned that the meeting also addressed issues of water and security in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa region, where emphasis was placed on the necessity of respecting international law and norms, and not infringing upon the sovereignty of states.
Source: The Egyptian Gazette
