Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed on Tuesday that there has been a significant development in Egyptian-Greek relations over the past nine years, pointing to the existing contacts with Greece at all levels, which proves the extent of the development of bilateral relations.
During a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their talks in Athens, Minister Shoukry said: “Our talks are always transparent and credible, and we talk without restrictions because the interests are common, the political is homogeneous and our goals are consistent with achieving stability and peace in the eastern Mediterranean region and at the regional and international levels.”
Minister Shoukry pointed out that the relationship between the two countries is strategic concerning the fields of political, security, military and Economic Cooperation and the common desire to continue to work to strengthen this relationship.
He pointed out that this strategic relationship, through which both countries equally derive their interests, is a strategy based on principles about good neighborliness, mutual respect and joint work to promote peace and stability, and that it is not directed to any other goals.
Minister Shoukry pointed out that Egypt and Greece are seeking during this stage to strengthen cooperation in many fields, which include the electrical interconnection of the two countries, as well as from the electrical interconnection through Greece to the European continent.
He said that the Joint relationship benefited from the momentum generated by the conference of the states parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (COP27), which was held in Egypt, in addition to the increasing reliance on new and renewable energy and clean energy in the framework of maintaining the planet’s low temperature and preserving the planet for future generations.
“The energy that Egypt can provide through solar energy once again confirms the mixing and mutual dependence between the two countries,” Shoukry said.
He noted that the eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum and the diversity of energy sources it provides is one of the important areas within the framework of relations between Cairo and Athens.
Minister Shoukry expressed his pride in the trilateral relationship “Egyptian, Greek, and Cypriot”, and what was achieved through successive summits to determine the scope of cooperation and projects that are in the interest of the three Peoples, expressing the aspiration to hold a trilateral summit in the second half of this year.
He stressed that the two countries are working hard to push forward the projects that have been agreed upon, many of which have been completed.
Shoukry expressed his pride in what has been agreed, whether within the framework of the agreement on seasonal employment and the settlement of Egyptian labor conditions, or major issues, such as border demarcation and the ability to deal with each party taking into account the interests of the other.
He also expressed his appreciation and thanks for the Greek role in the framework of supporting Egypt in the EU mechanisms, and for the clarification by Greece of many things related to the current developments in Egypt from the perspective of proximity and knowledge of the region and the situation.
Shoukry pointed out that Egypt has deep relations with the European Union, as well as extended partnership and political cooperation agreements and the partnership committee that is convened to review this relationship and ensure that it is moving forward.
Minister Shoukry explained that many regional issues were discussed, including the Palestinian issue, the challenges and risks it is witnessing.
He noted to the joint work to calm things down and move to restore the negotiating process to achieve a comprehensive and just peace on the principle of a two-state solution, and the establishment of a Palestinian state on the borders of the Fourth of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Regarding the situation in Libya, Minister Shoukry said: “The situation in Libya is stressful, and we seek for Libya to regain its unity, stability and full sovereignty, and to face its challenges through a Libyan-Libyan consensus.
Minister Shoukry stressed that Egypt is achieving successive achievements through its communication with all Libyan parties, expressing his hope that it will eventually lead to free and fair elections that will bring a government that expresses the will of the Libyan people and preserves its capabilities.
As for the situation in Syria, Minister Shoukry said, “Syria is of interest to us, and we strive for Egypt’s relations in the vicinity of its territory to be positive, and we have reacted well to what we have seen of Turkey’s orientation and desire to normalize relations.
“I will visit Ankara within two days to continue the path initiated by the Egyptian and Turkish sides to bring about this normalization on the same bases on which we base our relationship of good neighborliness, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, achieving peace and stability and staying away from any actions that disturb the regional situation,” he said.
For his part, the Greek minister stressed his country’s efforts to continue strengthening strategic relations with Egypt in a wide range of areas, such as economy, investment, energy and climate change.
He said that he discussed with Minister Shoukry international and regional developments of common interest, including developments in the eastern Mediterranean, Libya, EU-Egypt relations and regional cooperation plans.
Later on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry conveyed an oral message from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
This came during the reception of the prime minister of Greece to foreign minister Shoukry, who is currently on a visit to Athens.
The official spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, said that the message concerns ways to support and strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and Greece, and looking forward to advancing cooperation within the framework of the trilateral mechanism between Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus.
