CAIRO/ANKARA, Feb 4 (MENA) – Egypt and Turkey reiterated their rejection of any violation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, whether through settlement activities and the annexation of lands, displacement and expulsion, or encouraging the relocation of Palestinians to other countries outside Palestinian territories for short- or long-terms.

They warned that such actions threaten stability, inflame conflicts in the region, and undermine opportunities for peace and coexistence among its peoples.

This came in a joint statement issued by Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, following their meeting in Ankara on Tuesday where they discussed bilateral relations and regional issues of mutual interest within the framework of the strategic relationship between the two countries.

The statement stated that both ministers expressed their satisfaction with the progress of bilateral relations, noting that this aligns with the outcomes of the 1st High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting between Egypt and Turkey in September 2024. This progress in relations was reflected in a notable increase in trade between the two countries to hit $8.8 billion in 2024, it said.

According to the statement: “Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to enhance the business climate for the private sector and investors in both countries, and pledged to further promote trade relations, aiming to reach a trade volume of $15 billion by strengthening economic and commercial ties and enhancing industrial cooperation.

They welcomed the agreement on a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners in Gaza and praised the endeavors made by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in this regard, affirming their support for efforts to ensure the full implementation of all phases of the agreement.

They emphasized the importance of intensified collective efforts by the international community to alleviate the suffering in the war-devastated Gaza, particularly through increasing humanitarian aid and ensuring the reconstruction of the enclave without displacing Palestinians from their lands. In this regard, the two ministers called on international donors to actively participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference, which is expected to be hosted by Egypt soon.

They also highlighted the importance of maintaining the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which remains indispensable for supporting Palestinian refugees in the occupied Palestinian territories. They reiterated as well the need for Israel to reverse its decisions that undermine the role of UNRWA, stressing their strong support for the resilience of the Palestinian people and their unwavering commitment to their homeland and legitimate rights.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the root causes of instability in the Middle East by achieving a just and lasting peace between Palestine and Israel, based on international law, United Nations resolutions, and the two-state solution. This includes the establishment of a Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They also expressed their determination to maintain Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, ensuring that Syrian territories do not pose a threat to any other country. In this regard, they stressed the importance of a comprehensive political process that serves the interests of the Syrian people, and expressed mutual understanding on the voluntary and dignified return of displaced Syrians to their homeland.

The two foreign ministers emphasized the importance of combating terrorism and maintaining good-neighborly relations with regional countries. They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, as well as backing the Somali federal government in achieving security and stability.

They expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has led to catastrophic humanitarian consequences across the country and the region, and commended the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council's decision to establish humanitarian zones to facilitate the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid.

Both ministers also stressed their commitment to supporting a Libyan-led political process under the auspices of the United Nations, aimed at maintaining Libya’s political unity, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting coordinated international efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including addressing its root causes and ideological foundations, and combating the movement of terrorists across borders, emphasizing a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to terrorism and its supporters.”
(MENA)
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