The eighth round of ministerial-level Yemeni-Egyptian strategic dialogue concluded in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Wednesday. The dialogue began with a bilateral meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers, Dr. Shaya’ Al-Zindani and Sameh Shoukry, followed by an expanded session of talks attended by the two delegations.
During the session, attended by Yemen’s Ambassador to Egypt, Khaled Bahah, and Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs, Ambassador Mohamed Al-Badri, the two sides reviewed the latest developments related to a number of regional issues, foremost of which was the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe facing the sector.
The two ministers reiterated their rejection of Israeli practices and attempts to militarily control the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side, which has led to a halt in the flow of humanitarian aid. They pointed out that the aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza is not separate from the situation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and that the Israeli government continues to create a climate of pressure on the Palestinians. The two ministers also warned of the repercussions of the continued escalation, which threatens to increase the risks of expanding the conflict, which will have very negative consequences for the security and stability of the region.
The talks addressed the increasing dangers of tensions in the Red Sea and their implications for the security of navigation and trade in the Suez Canal, and their impact on international transportation and trade, exacerbating the current global economic crisis. They stressed the need for the international community to play its role in mitigating the humanitarian crisis that the Yemeni people are suffering from and providing the necessary support to finance United Nations relief programs in Yemen.
Minister Al-Zindani expressed Yemen’s high appreciation for Egypt’s supportive positions on the Yemeni issue and its constitutional legitimacy. He praised the close and deep-rooted historical relations between the two countries and welcomed the outcomes of the strategic dialogue round between the two countries at the level of senior officials. He reviewed the results of those meetings, including bilateral relations and regional issues, especially the Red Sea security issue, which occupied a large part of the discussions. Discussions also took place on reactivating the joint higher committee headed by the prime ministers of the two countries, as well as strengthening mechanisms for economic, trade and investment cooperation, in addition to exchanging experiences in the field of training Yemeni diplomatic cadres through the Institute for Diplomatic Studies of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For his part, the Egyptian Foreign Minister affirmed Egypt’s support for Yemeni legitimacy represented by the Presidential Leadership Council. He pointed to Egypt’s support for all efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people and ends their humanitarian suffering, in accordance with the terms of reference of the Yemeni national dialogue, the Gulf initiative and the outcomes of the recent Yemeni consultations in Riyadh, as well as in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost of which is Resolution 2216. He stressed Egypt’s unwavering support for the unity of the Yemeni state and its institutions, its independence and the safety of its lands. He noted that the security and stability of Yemen is of paramount importance to Egyptian national security, the security of the Arab region and the Red Sea region.
Minister Shoukry expressed Egypt’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Yemeni government in its efforts to develop infrastructure and rehabilitate human cadres in various fields. He affirmed Egypt’s openness to engage in Yemeni development projects and reconstruction efforts. He pointed to Egyptian efforts to provide various aspects of support to the Yemeni people, especially in terms of providing medical and food aid, in addition to Egypt hosting large numbers of Yemeni citizens on its soil and providing them with all living services in a manner similar to what is provided to Egyptian citizens.
At the end of the talks, the two ministers affirmed the depth and specificity of Egyptian-Yemeni relations throughout history and the two countries’ keenness to enhance mechanisms of cooperation, solidarity and coordination in a way that achieves their common interests and supports the stability of Arab countries and the region.
Source: https://pmo-ye.net/post/7610
