CAIRO, April 26 (MENA) - Egypt has welcomed the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as vice-president of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Executive Committee on Saturday.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Egypt affirmed all support for this step, which falls within the framework of the PA's reform efforts to cement Palestine's internal front and restore the rights of Palestinian brethren.

The move was announced during the extraordinary Arab summit in Cairo on March 4.

Egypt also reaffirmed its ceaseless support to the PA and all Palestinian brethren in their legitimate struggle to end the Israeli occupation, reclaim their right to self-determination, and establish an independent Palestinian state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital.

Egypt will also maintain its tireless efforts to resume the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and ensure the safe passage of humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged strip, which will contribute to early recovery and reconstruction efforts and end the suffering of the Palestinian people, the statement says.

During a phone call with al-Sheikh on Saturday, Minister of Foreign, Emigration and Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty congratulated him on assuming his new post, wishing him and the PA success in their efforts to restore the rights of the Palestinian people at this critical juncture in the history of the Palestinian cause. (MENA)

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