Egypt Renews Firm Stance to Support Palestinian Cause

A handout picture released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on September 9, 2021 shows Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (C) meeting with his counterparts, Jordanian Minister Ayman Safadi (L) and Palestinian Minister Riyad al-Maliki (R), at the Tahrir Palace in Cairo, prior to the start of the work of the 156th session of the Arab League at the ministerial meeting. (Photo by - / Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AFP)
A handout picture released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on September 9, 2021 shows Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (C) meeting with his counterparts, Jordanian Minister Ayman Safadi (L) and Palestinian Minister Riyad al-Maliki (R), at the Tahrir Palace in Cairo, prior to the start of the work of the 156th session of the Arab League at the ministerial meeting. (Photo by - / Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AFP)
TT

Egypt Renews Firm Stance to Support Palestinian Cause

A handout picture released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on September 9, 2021 shows Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (C) meeting with his counterparts, Jordanian Minister Ayman Safadi (L) and Palestinian Minister Riyad al-Maliki (R), at the Tahrir Palace in Cairo, prior to the start of the work of the 156th session of the Arab League at the ministerial meeting. (Photo by - / Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AFP)
A handout picture released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on September 9, 2021 shows Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (C) meeting with his counterparts, Jordanian Minister Ayman Safadi (L) and Palestinian Minister Riyad al-Maliki (R), at the Tahrir Palace in Cairo, prior to the start of the work of the 156th session of the Arab League at the ministerial meeting. (Photo by - / Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AFP)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed Thursday his country’s firm stance to support the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Shoukry also urged international and regional parties to fulfill their role in providing the proper climate for pushing forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace process during the coming period.

The Minister’s stance came during a tripartite meeting held in Cairo with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki ahead of the 156th ordinary ministerial session of the Arab League Council that was later held on Thursday.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez said in a statement that the meeting aimed to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian cause and the efforts made to work on re-engagement in the peace track and launch a serious and constructive negotiating process for reaching a comprehensive and just settlement on the basis of the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said both the Jordanian and Palestinian ministers praised Egypt's initiative to rebuild Gaza and provide development support to the Palestinian territories.

Thursday’s meeting also discussed the most prominent regional and international developments and stances towards a number of Arab issues, while the three ministers stressed the need to enhance joint Arab cooperation frameworks and agreed to continue their trilateral consultation in a way that achieves the interests of their countries and peoples.

Later, Shoukry said his country rejects all acts that would target the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of the city of Jerusalem and its sanctities or change the historical and legal status quo, affirming that settlement activities in all of the occupied Palestinian territories should be stopped.



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
TT

Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.