(AFP Photo)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Kamel Amr met with his French counterpart Fabius Laurent and French President François Hollande in Paris on Tuesday.
Kamel Amr met with Hollande on Tuesday morning to discuss bilateral relations and methods to help solve a number of crises in Africa and the Middle East, including the unrest in Syria and Mali, according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement. The pair also discussed the “situation in Egypt in light of the transition process”, highlighting the economic situation. Kamel Amr stressed “the interest of the Egyptian government to encourage foreign investments in Egypt”.
On Syria, Kamel Amr reiterated Egypt’s view “that the solution to the crisis must be a political solution that ensures the unity of Syrian territory and the unity of the Syrian people”. He also commended and expressed support for the efforts of Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Moaz Al-Khatib
Hollande and Kamel Amr also discussed the situation in Mali. France spearheaded Opération Serval which was military attempt to drive out rebel Islamist forces that had taken control of Northern Mali. Both the Egyptian ministry and President Mohamed Morsi spoke out against French intervention in January. In Paris, Kamel Amr asserted that Egypt’s position on the situation is rooted in reaching a “comprehensive perspective” to tackle “the roots of the crisis and avoiding their recurrence”. He stressed that “Egypt is ready to participate in reconstruction efforts, development, the fight against extremist ideology and peacekeeping”.
The pair also discussed preparations for the French-African Summit, which is scheduled to take place later this year under the joint chairmanship of France and Egypt. According to the statement, a ministerial preparatory meeting in Cairo will precede the summit.
Kamel Amr delivered a letter to Hollande from Morsi, which “stressed the depth of Egyptian-French relations and Egypt’s interest in coordination with France on issues of common concern”. Hollande also invited Morsi to visit France, a date for which has been set “through diplomatic channels”.
Kamel Amr arrived in France on Monday and his visit is expected to last three days. He is also scheduled to meet with the France-Egypt Parliamentary Friendship Association.
