Egypt warned against the dangers of achieving what Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry put as "an incomplete victory" over terrorist organizations in the region.
Shoukry pointed out that eliminating ISIS is not the end, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation among coalition countries to counter any financing or support being pumped into terrorism.
His remarks came during a meeting on Wednesday with Brett H. McGurk, the United States special envoy to counter ISIS.
Shoukry stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation among countries partaking in the anti-ISIS international coalition in terms of ending any activity related to financing or supporting terrorism, under the guise of charity and activism.
Shoukry reviewed Egypt's efforts in the framework of the international coalition against ISIS and its various offshoots, highlighting efforts exerted by Egypt and its religious institutions in combating radical ideology and closely reviewing religious discourse and abolishing that used by terrorist organizations particularly content used to influence the minds of young people.
Egypt’s foreign ministry later said in an official statement that Shoukry and McGurk exchanged views on assessing the situation against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and what has been achieved on the ground in so far--including ways to deal with the post-ISIS era in Iraq and how to strengthen progress has been made on the ground.
In April, US President Donald Trump said during a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that Cairo and Washington would fight militants together.
The meeting discussed ways to strengthen coordination between Egypt and the United States in the field of combating terrorism, as well as in international forums and the United Nations.
As for Iraq, Shoukry praised the sacrifices made by the Iraqi army, supported by the international coalition, and the victories it achieved in liberating the previously ISIS-held land.
Reviewing effects entailed by the Kurdistan referendum for independence, Shoukry points out to the importance of not allowing any internal variables to negatively affect efforts countering ISIS, noting the need to provide international support Iraq so desperately needs to fully complete its mission in liberated areas and advancing national reconciliation efforts.
