Egypt, Brazil to Advocate for Southern Countries' Interests

Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt, Brazil to Advocate for Southern Countries' Interests

Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian and Brazilian presidents stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. (Egyptian Presidency)

An Egyptian-Brazilian summit convened in Cairo on Thursday to deliberate on mutual coordination within international spheres, focusing on collaborative efforts to reform the global governance framework for equitable representation of Southern countries' interests.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi received his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Al Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo.
Egypt's presidential spokesman, Ahmad Fahmy, said that the talks tackled bilateral ties, Brazil’s presiding over G20 this year, and Egypt's invitation as a guest to the group's meetings.
Lula was on an official state visit to Cairo, celebrating 100 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It was his second visit to Egypt, the first having been in 2003.
They witnessed the signing of several agreements in sciences, technology, and agriculture.
“We have agreed to bolster our bilateral relations in all political, economic, industrial, agricultural, and cultural fields,” Sisi said during a joint press conference with his Brazilian counterpart.
Both sides, he added, agreed to set up a joint committee to coordinate the areas and goals of their bilateral ties.
Strategic Partnership
After talks with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo, the Brazilian President said he wanted relations between the two countries to be elevated to a “strategic partnership.”
Lula said the admission of Egypt as a member of BRICS represents a milestone in effective collaboration between emerging economies.
He said Egypt and Brazil will work on "reforming international governance and building peace" in the framework of BRICS and urged for a multilateral world with fair development opportunities for developing states.
In January, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, UAE, and Ethiopia joined the BRICS, comprising Russia, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa.
Gaza
Meanwhile, the Brazilian President urged the UN to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.
Lula da Silva said the UN lacks sufficient power to stop the war in Gaza, noting that "Israel has violated all resolutions, laws, and international norms in its aggression against the strip."
Lula said there would not be peace without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
According to remarks provided to the Middle East News Agency, Mai Taha Khalil, Egypt's Ambassador to Brazil, asserted that this visit signifies Brazil's acknowledgment of Egypt's endeavors towards fostering stability and security in the Arab and African regions.
The Egyptian ambassador highlighted Brazil's recognition of Egyptian mediation efforts in facilitating a ceasefire in the Strip and securing the release of hostages.

 

 



Director of Yeyha al-Houthi's Office Arrested for Allegedly Spying for US

The Houthi have intensified their crackdown on people who refuse to support them. (EPA)
The Houthi have intensified their crackdown on people who refuse to support them. (EPA)
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Director of Yeyha al-Houthi's Office Arrested for Allegedly Spying for US

The Houthi have intensified their crackdown on people who refuse to support them. (EPA)
The Houthi have intensified their crackdown on people who refuse to support them. (EPA)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias continued their wave of arrests, reaching the highest ranks of the Houthi command.

Under the supervision of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) experts, they arrested Ali Abbas, the director of the office of Yehya al-Houthi – the militias’ leader – on alleged charges of spying for the United States.

Political sources in Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthi intelligence, which operates under the IRGC, arrested Abbas and deputy at the Ministry of Education Ahmed al-Nunu on spying charges.

The sources said the arrests were based on investigations the Houthis have carried out with dozens of detainees who used to work for United Nations offices and other international organizations, as well as former staff at the US embassy in Yemen and the Netherlands.

The legitimate Yemeni government condemned the Houthis for kidnapping Nunu.

Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the arrest sheds light on the ongoing oppression the Houthis practice in regions under their control.

“No one is safe from their violent practices, not even people who have worked for them since their coup,” he added.

The Houthis had kidnapped other senior Education Ministry officials, professor Mohammed al-Mekhlafi and expert Mujib al-Mekhlafi, nine months ago.

Eryani said the Houthis also executed educational expert Sabri al-Hakimi while in detention because he refused to join their effort to change curricula that would promote the militias’ goals.

He called on the international community, UN and rights organizations to speak out against these “heinous crimes.”

He also called for the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization and for the international community to offer real and effective support to the government so that the state can impose its control throughout the country and end the violations against the Yemeni people.