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Egyptian-Saudi Political Consultation Committee Supports GERD Talks

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Egyptian-Saudi Political Consultation Committee Supports GERD Talks

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia and Egypt agreed on the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf, the Bab El-Mandab strait and the Red Sea, and stressed that they reject any attempt to hinder navigation in the area.

This came in a joint statement issued by the Egyptian-Saudi Political Consultation Committee after a meeting led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry was held on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, backed Egypt’s rights to preserve its water security with respect to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Farhan asserted his country’s support of Egypt’s aim to reach a legally binding agreement on the GERD through serious talks.

Saudi Arabia also acknowledged that Egypt’s water security was integral to Arab water security.

The two countries reaffirmed that their shared ties are pivotal to the stability of the region on political, economic, Islamic, cultural and military levels. They said that the future of the region requires strengthening joint cooperation between the two countries to support the interests of their peoples.

More so, the two sides stressed the rejection of regional interference in Arab internal affairs and attempts to destabilize the region's security and stability.

They also stressed the importance of the Palestinian issue as the central issue of the Arab nation, and emphasized that a just and comprehensive solution requires establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the borders of the 1967 agreement, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international legitimacy decisions.

For his part, Shoukry expressed Egypt’s total support for Saudi Arabia protecting its national security and rejects any attack on Saudi territories, asserting that the national security of the kingdom is connected to that of Egypt.

The two sides also agreed on the importance of preserving Libya’s security and rejecting all foreign interference in its affairs, and stressed that they support a comprehensive political solution based on the Berlin Conference and the Cairo Declaration.

Shoukry and Farhan also agreed that Egypt and Saudi Arabia should work to boost economic cooperation and work on removing any obstacles standing in the way of increasing commercial and investment exchange.

They also discussed the latest developments concerning the coronavirus pandemic and its repercussions on various levels.

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Gulf

GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
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GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and their counterparts from Central Asia discussed in Kuwait on Wednesday consolidating cooperation in several fields.

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue focused on enhancing the strong relations between the GCC and Central Asian countries and discussed a joint action plan to advance cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and tourism sectors.

Preparations were also reviewed for the upcoming summit between the GCC and Central Asian countries, scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, next month. This summit follows the inaugural one held in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

The meeting additionally addressed recent international developments and the ongoing efforts in response.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attended the meeting.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya said the meeting marks a significant milestone in establishing a sustainable partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Speaking at a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi after the meeting, Al-Yahya, current President of the GCC Ministerial Council, highlighted the growing historical, cultural, and human ties between the two regions, and emphasized the shared political will to strengthen strategic cooperation.

The meeting focused on several key areas of priority, including enhancing economic and trade cooperation, encouraging investment, and developing sectors such as transport and energy, clean energy transitions, green economies, and modern technologies, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Discussions also focused on food and water security, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, aiming to support stability and sustainable development.

On political and security matters, the foreign minister stressed the importance of consultation and coordination on shared challenges, especially in combating terrorism, extremism, and cyber threats, and praised the GCC Secretariat for its role in advancing joint action mechanisms.

Regarding regional and international issues, Al-Yahya reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, and also called for an immediate

On his part, Al-Budaiwi said that both the GCC and Central Asian states are committed to advancing cooperation across various sectors, as outlined in the Joint Action Plan for 2023-27.

He stated that the meeting included an exchange of views on regional and global developments, particularly the Israeli occupation's violations against the Palestinian people, and reiterated the GCC's rejection of these violations and called on the international community to act decisively in support of Palestinian rights, including the establishment of a sovereign state.