Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate meetings with his British, Dutch, and Latvian counterparts on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meetings focused on various regional and international issues, including developments in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran, Yemen, and Sudan. Abdelatty stressed Egypt's keenness to further develop bilateral relations, particularly economic, trade, and investment cooperation.
During his meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Abdelatty emphasized the need to facilitate access for Egyptian exports to the UK market, increase bilateral trade, and create more opportunities for British investment in Egypt. The two ministers discussed regional developments, including the situation in Gaza, stressing the importance of advancing implementation of the peace plan. They also discussed developments in the occupied West Bank and the need to halt settlement activities.
Abdelatty also met with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, discussing ways to strengthen bilateral economic and investment cooperation and increase the pace of reciprocal visits. He highlighted 50 years of Egyptian-Dutch cooperation in water management, as well as cooperation on migration and capacity building. Abdelatty welcomed what he described as a positive development in the Dutch position on the Palestinian issue.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister also discussed the Iranian crisis with Berendsen, stressing the need to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue and continue mediation and negotiations to reduce tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. Berendsen expressed appreciation for the close relations between Egypt and the Netherlands and for Egypt's role in supporting regional security and stability.
Abdelatty's meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže focused on expanding cooperation, particularly in trade and economic fields, through regular meetings of bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Abdelatty stressed the importance of strengthening trilateral cooperation with Latvia in Africa, allowing the two countries to benefit from Egypt's geographic position as a gateway for European exports to African markets.
The two ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the Iranian crisis, efforts to reduce regional tensions, developments in the Palestinian issue, and the Ukraine crisis. They stressed the importance of giving political tracks and negotiations space to achieve peaceful solutions to the crises and contribute to regional and international security and stability.
The meetings formed part of Abdelatty's diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's high-level segment in New York. Egypt's diplomatic efforts aim to address regional tensions and promote stability in the Middle East. Abdelatty's discussions with his counterparts reflect Egypt's commitment to fostering strong relationships with its international partners.
Key points
- Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with UK, Dutch, and Latvian counterparts to discuss regional issues
- Abdelatty stresses the importance of advancing implementation of the peace plan for Gaza
- Egypt seeks to strengthen bilateral economic and investment cooperation with the Netherlands and Latvia
