French foreign minister in Cairo concerned with Palestinian peace process

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Saturday he is worried over the peace process concerning the Palestinian cause, saying it requires more international coordination and cooperation.

Shourky, who appeared in a press conference with Laurent Fabius, his French counterpart who was in Cairo as part of a regional trip that includes Israel, says the Arab Peace Initiative is still regionally supported.

Fabius arrived in Cairo Saturday and discussed with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi the possible re-awakening of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Negotiations via a phone call are expected to be held this evening between the French minister and the Arab Ministerial Committee to follow up on moves to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Before meeting El-Sisi, Fabius met with Shoukry, and discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in various fields, including the political, economic, trade, investment and security files, spokesperson to the Egyptian FM Badr Abdel-Ati said in the statement.

The Egyptian and French foreign ministers discussed regional and international issues of common interest including the fight against terrorism, and the Libyan, Syrian, Yemeni and Iranian crises, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read.

The two FMs reviewed the latest developments in Libya and ways to support the efforts of the UN envoy to the country, Bernandino Leon. They looked for a method to reach a political solution that will maintain the unity of the country and boost its ability to confront terrorism and illegal migration, according to Abdel-Ati.

The two ministers also discussed developments in the Syrian crisis and ways to come to a political solution in order to reach a democratic system of government and stop the killing of civilians.

Shoukri spoke to the French FM about the Yemeni crisis and the Geneva talks that ended yesterday and which failed to find a solution.

Abdel-Ati added that the two ministers also addressed the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the group of six major countries — the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — participating in the Iranian nuclear talks.

source:Ahram online