Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, at the Greek Foreign Ministry headquarters in Athens on Monday. According to Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and Director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting included a closed bilateral session followed by extensive discussions involving both Egyptian and Greek delegations. The talks covered various aspects of bilateral relations and intensive consultations on regional developments.
Ambassador Abu Zeid stated that the visit reflects the commitment of both countries to strengthen their longstanding historical friendship, which has recently seen a significant transformation, elevating it to the level of strategic relations. These relations are based on political, economic, and military pillars, as well as longstanding historical ties and geographical proximity, which have expanded the scope of shared interests.
The discussions reaffirmed the shared pride in the deep historical relations and continuous closeness between Egypt and Greece. Both sides renewed their commitment to enhancing these relations in all fields, based on the joint declaration to establish a High-Level Cooperation Council signed by the Egyptian President and the Greek Prime Minister during the latter’s visit to Cairo last March. They emphasized the importance of activating this council and holding its first session as soon as possible.
The talks highlighted the significance of economic cooperation, with Minister Shoukry stressing the importance of advancing and developing the economic, trade, and investment aspects of Egyptian-Greek relations. He pointed to the potential for further cooperation in various fields, through innovative cooperation mechanisms capable of addressing current political, security, and economic challenges. The discussions also focused on joint energy cooperation, particularly the urgency of implementing the “GREGY” electricity interconnection project, which will allow the export of renewable energy-generated electricity from Egypt to Europe via Greece. This project represents an unprecedented milestone that will enable Egypt to contribute to Europe’s energy security.
Minister Shoukry also invited the Greek side to participate in the upcoming joint investment conference between Egypt and the European Union, scheduled to be held in Egypt on June 29-30, 2024, to attract European investments to Egypt and promote it as a central hub for European companies. He expressed his hope for significant Greek participation in the conference, in light of the strong bilateral relations between Egypt and Greece. The ministers agreed on the importance of enhancing trade exchange and mutual investments, leveraging the full potential of both countries as pivotal states in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The discussions also prioritized the implementation and activation of the seasonal labor agreement in the agricultural sector signed between Egypt and Greece. They explored opportunities for cooperation in promising fields such as maritime transport and tourism.
On regional cooperation, Ambassador Abu Zeid noted that the ministers discussed ways to strengthen cooperation within the trilateral mechanism involving Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, which serves as a model for comprehensive regional cooperation and has brought a dynamic and strategic nature to bilateral relations. In this context, Minister Shoukry expressed Egypt’s desire to host the upcoming trilateral summit, emphasizing the importance of continuing to develop contractual frameworks and joint projects under this mechanism to achieve tangible accomplishments. The talks also addressed key issues such as efforts to combat illegal migration across the Mediterranean.
The Palestinian issue naturally occupied a significant portion of the discussions, with the ministers addressing the humanitarian tragedy in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza, amid the ongoing Israeli aggression. They discussed the threats posed by Israel’s planned ground attack on the Palestinian city of Rafah and its severe implications for regional security and stability. Minister Shoukry highlighted Egypt’s efforts to contain the current crisis through intensive communications with both parties involved and coordination with relevant international and regional actors. He stressed the need to address the Palestinian issue comprehensively, ensuring the Palestinians’ rights to establish their state based on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international references.
Minister Shoukry also emphasized Egypt’s complete rejection of Israel’s control over the Rafah crossing, which has hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. He insisted that Israel, as the occupying power, must fulfill its responsibilities. He strongly opposed any military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah and any attempts to resolve the Palestinian issue through forced displacement, warning that Israel’s actions in Rafah endanger over a million Palestinians and threaten them with imminent humanitarian risks and displacement.
The ministers also addressed security threats in the Red Sea related to the war in Gaza, its impact on maritime navigation in the region, and growing concerns that the prolonged conflict might expand to other areas in the Middle East. The overall situation in the region, including Libya, Syria, and Sudan, was discussed. Minister Shoukry briefed his Greek counterpart on recent Egyptian diplomatic efforts related to these issues, highlighting the ongoing endeavors to restore stability and peace in the region.
In conclusion, the ministers agreed on the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Greece to ensure a prosperous future for their relations, matching their historical ties. They also emphasized the need for continued close consultation and coordination on evolving international and regional developments, exchanging views on shared concerns, and maintaining cooperation within multilateral frameworks, coordinating positions on priority issues.