Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York on the sidelines of UNGA – Egyptian Foreign Ministry
CAIRO – 23 September 2021: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday discussed bilateral relations with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as regional and international issues of common interest.
The ministers met in New York on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, Shoukry and Blinken agreed on the importance of working on the proper preparation of the next round of strategic dialogue between Egypt and the United States in the near future.
The meeting reflected the importance of coordination and consultation between Egypt and the United States in the coming period to continue advancing areas of joint cooperation in priority sectors, the statement said.
The meeting also underlined the importance of working to remove any obstacles that could hamper the aspiration of the two countries to push their strong relations to new horizons.
Shoukry and Blinken discussed the most important political, security and economic aspects of bilateral relations within the framework of the strong, historic and complex relations between Egypt and the United States.
This is done in a way that achieves the common goals and interests of the two friendly countries and peoples, the ministry added.
According to US Department spokesman Ned Price, Shoukry’s meeting with Blinken also touched on Israeli-Palestinian relations, diplomatic efforts on Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum.
Discussions also included “our mutual desire for results-oriented negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam under the auspices of the African Union,†Price said.
The ministers also discussed their countries’ readiness to strengthen and deepen their partnership, Price added.
Blinken paid an official visit to Egypt at the end of May, during which he met President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
His visit to Egypt came a week after Israel and the Gaza factions began an Egypt-proposed ceasefire, ending Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire that killed 254 people, including women and children, in 11 days.
At their May meeting in Cairo, Sisi and Blinken discussed updates on the Palestinian cause and ways to revive the peace process.
The president said recent developments require the urgent activation of direct negotiations between the two parties, supported by effective US involvement.
Sisi added that Egypt is keen to cooperate with the United States on this issue, saying the solution must be just and comprehensive in order to preserve the rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with international benchmarks.
The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination and consultation on stabilizing the ceasefire and starting reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.
