Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Egyptian FM and US Counterpart Review Regional Developments | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) shakes hands with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during a meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S. February 27, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria


Washington – US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met on Monday with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Washington.

Discussions during the meeting focused on the vision of US President Donald Trump’s Administration towards the region, as well as bilateral relations and fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

The two officials also reviewed arrangements for the upcoming visit of Egyptian President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi to Washington.

During his two-day visit, Shoukry will also meet with senior officials in Trump’s administration, including National Security Advisor Herbert Raymond McMaster.

An official at the US state department said that the meeting between Tillerson and Shoukry has stressed deep strategic ties between Washington and Cairo.

The official added that discussions have touched regional issues, the means to promote bilateral relations, and efforts aimed at combating terrorism and achieving peace and stability in the region.

He also noted that the US considered Egypt as a “true partner’’ in its endeavors to establish peace.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abou Zeid said that Tillerson listened to Shoukry’s presentation on latest economic, political and security developments in Egypt, in addition to reform measures adopted by the Egyptian government with the aim to revive the country’s economy within the framework of the national democratic transformation program.

He added that the two officials also reviewed efforts to fight terrorism and threats imposed by terrorist organizations.

The Syrian crisis was also on the table of discussions, as the Syrian foreign minister stressed the need to preserve the unity of Syrian territories and the necessity to reach a political solution that would meet the aspirations of the entire Syrian population.

On the Palestinian file, Shoukry underlined his country’s adherence to the two-state solution and informed his US counterpart of Egyptian efforts to encourage the Palestinian and Israeli sides to resume peace negotiations.