CAIRO, Jan 20 (MENA) - European Council President António Costa appreciated pivotal role of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza as well as supporting security and stability in the Middle East, saying that Egypt is an important partner for the European Union (EU).

In a meeting Sunday night with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty during his current visit to Brussels, the president of the European Council entrusted the Egyptian foreign minister with conveying his greetings to President Sisi.

For his part, Abdelatty praised positive developments in relations with the EU since the visit of the president of the European Commission to Cairo on March 17, 2024 and the issuance of the joint declaration on upgrading relations to the strategic and comprehensive partnership between Egypt and the EU.

The Egyptian minister welcomed the success of the investment conference held in June 2024 in Cairo; being one of the first major strategic partnership events, as it contributed to encouraging the European private sector to invest in Egypt and underlined the great importance Egypt attached to the full implementation of all aspects of the strategic partnership.

Abdelatty also welcomed the European financial package presented to Egypt and the disbursement of the first tranche, worth one billion euros.

He said he is looking forward to the European Council president's support to approve the second tranche that is worth of four billion euros.

The Egyptian minister also highlighted joint cooperation in the field of emigration, the importance of linking emigration to development and addressing the root causes of illegal emigration, by supporting economic and social development, referring to the challenges and burdens that Egypt bears in light of hosting more than 10 million foreigners.

The meeting also touched on the successive regional developments, most notably the situation in the Gaza Strip, as Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s tireless efforts in this regard.

Meantime, the minister shed light on efforts exerted by Qatar and the US to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of hostages and prisoners, highlighting the importance of having the parties to the agreement adhere to its provisions and put it into effect, in line with specified stages and set dates.

He voiced hope that the implementation of the agreement will accelerate pace of safe flow and and distribution of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip, calling on the EU to support humanitarian efforts, provide aid to the Gaza Strip and begin early recovery projects in preparation for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Abdelatty also took up the Egyptian stand regarding the latest developments in Syria, Sudan, Somalia and the Horn of Africa region, along with file of the Egyptian water security issue, stressing Egypt inalienable rights in this respect. (MENA)

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