CAIRO, June 17 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty held a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in line with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to intensify efforts and communications aimed at halting the ongoing dangerous military escalation between Israel and Iran, foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf said.

The call addressed ways to enhance Egyptian-Russian relations across various sectors, with both ministers expressing appreciation for the current level of bilateral cooperation and affirming their shared commitment to further strengthening ties.

They also emphasized the importance of continuing reciprocal visits to promote joint cooperation, particularly in economic, trade, and investment fields, to achieve mutual benefits.

The conversation touched on the latest regional developments amid the current military escalation and its grave consequences for the security and stability of the region.

Both top diplomats underlined the urgent need to de-escalate tensions and pursue political and diplomatic solutions, reaffirming that there is no military solution to the current crisis.

Minister Lavrov praised the joint statement issued yesterday by 23 Arab and Islamic countries at Egypt’s initiative, which stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations as the only way to reach a sustainable agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

The two ministers also exchanged updates on their recent communications with various regional and US officials aimed at curbing the escalation.

The call reflected a strong alignment between Egypt and Russia on the necessity of de-escalation, containment of the deteriorating situation and the imperative need to prevent the region from sliding into widespread chaos; with both sides reaffirming that resuming negotiations remains the only viable path forward. (MENA)
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