President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said regional crises were prominent topics in discussions with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Sisi said the talks tackled developments in the war in the Gaza Strip and prospects for the Palestinian issue.

“In this regard, we affirmed the imperative of the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the sustained exchange of hostages and detainees and the unfettered delivery of urgently-needed humanitarian aid and relief to alleviate the devastating humanitarian crisis endured by the people of Gaza,” the president said.

“Allow me from this platform, once again, to commend Spain’s courageous and historic decision to uphold right and justice, by recognizing the Palestinian State and the Palestinian people’s legitimate and inalienable rights, primarily their right to self-determination,” the president said.

“We concurred on the urgent need to strive to reinvigorate the peace process with the goal of establishing an independent Palestinian State, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy,” the president said.

“We also emphasized the importance of the international community’s support and adoption of the reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, that does not involve the forcible displacement of the Palestinian people, again, without the displacement of the Palestinian people, from their land they so dearly cherish, and their ancestral homeland they will never abandon, and that ensures the immediate initiation of relief and early recovery operations,” he said.

He said the underscored the need to support international humanitarian organizations operating in the sector, topped by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is indispensable for providing basic humanitarian services to the Palestinian people.

Sisi noted that the talks with Prime Minister Sánchez tackled the latest developments in Syria, accentuating Egypt’s unwavering solidarity with the Syrian people in their
pursuit of their legitimate aspirations.

“We stressed the importance of safeguarding the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria and underlined the urgency to initiate a comprehensive political process bringing together all segments of the Syrian people,” he said.

“We reiterated our categorical rejection of Israel’s violations of Syrian sovereignty and reaffirmed the necessity of ending the continued illegal Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights,” President Sisi added.

“On Lebanon, we discussed the situation there and welcomed the election of a new President of the Republic and a new Prime Minister. We maintained the importance of upholding the cessation of hostilities agreement and Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanese territories,” he said.

“We further agreed to strengthen cooperation on maritime security to address attacks on commercial shipping in Bab El-Mandab, and exchanged views on developments in the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions.

“Finally, I extend heartfelt gratitude, once again, to Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez for his invitation to visit the Kingdom of Spain. I look forward to welcoming him, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen to Egypt and to participate in the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum. This visit will definitely contribute to cultivating closer cooperation and solidifying the longstanding and historical friendship the two countries and their peoples share” the president concluded. (MENA)
M N E/R G E