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.

 

 



Syrian Christians Celebrate Christmas in Damascus Amid Tight Security

An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
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Syrian Christians Celebrate Christmas in Damascus Amid Tight Security

An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
An aerial picture shows a view of a crowd around a Christmas tree in Damascus on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)

Syrian Christians gathered at churches in the country's capital Damascus on Wednesday amid tight security measures to celebrate their first Christmas after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

"Today there is a large deployment of security to protect the churches, fearing sabotage, but things are normal," Nicola Yazgi told dpa, while attending a mass in eastern Damascus.

Security forces affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is now leading Syria's interim government, were deployed outside churches and in the streets in Christian-majority neighborhoods in the capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

According to the UK-based war monitor, churches across Syria - including in the southern city of al-Sweida, and in the northern cities of Aleppo and Idlib - opened their doors for Christmas celebrations.

Yazgi said he was celebrating two things this year: "Christmas and the victory of the revolution and the fall of the tyrant. We hope that today will be the day of salvation from the era of al-Assad family injustices."

Suad al-Zein, an engineer, also joined the mass in Damascus. She expressed her joy despite the lack of decorations in the streets: "For us, joy is in our hearts."

Civil war broke out in Syria in 2011 following pro-democracy protests against al-Assad's regime.

In late November, HTS and other opposition groups launched a rapid offensive, making major territorial gains before capturing Damascus earlier this month. Al-Assad fled to Russia with his family.

Since then, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has tried to reassure minorities in Syria, promising moderation and respect for all religious sects.

A group of people burnt a Christmas tree in Hama province on Monday evening, prompting hundreds of protesters to take to the streets in several cities.