Lavrov, Shoukry Discuss Regional Issues, Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry (EPA)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry (EPA)
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Lavrov, Shoukry Discuss Regional Issues, Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry (EPA)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry (EPA)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, have discussed bilateral ties and regional crises in the Middle East and North Africa, including Syria. The two appeared to see eye to eye on the priorities in dealing with a settlement in Syria.

Before the meeting in Moscow, the Russian foreign ministry stressed the importance of the issues on the agenda of Moscow and Cairo and stressed the quest to expand Russian-Egyptian cooperation in various fields, especially in the framework of cooperation to settle outstanding issues in the region and advance bilateral relations.

In a joint press conference at the end of their meeting, Lavrov and Shoukry revealed that the first part of their discussions focused on bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Cairo, especially in mega projects like setting up the first Egyptian nuclear power plant with Russian technology and establishing a Russian industrial zone near the Suez Canal.

Talks between the two top diplomats covered a variety of issues, including Libya. Lavrov and Shoukry agreed on the need to continue the UN-sponsored dialogue in Libya and holding elections there on time.

The two also stressed the need for all foreign forces to exit Libya, but Lavrov clarified that his country underlines the need for the withdrawal to be gradual.

On Palestinian, the two sides stressed the need to return to the path of settlement on the basis of international resolutions and in a manner that leads to the implementation of the principle of a two state solution.

More so, Shoukry said that he discussed latest developments on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam [GERD], and efforts to reach a binding legal solution on filling and operating the dam.

Shoukry thanked Russia for the support that Egypt received when addressing the GERD in the Security Council and said that Cairo is looking forward to continuing cooperation between the two countries in this regard.



US Urges Baghdad, Erbil to Carry Out ‘Constructive Dialogue’

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of Baghdad, Iraq, August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of Baghdad, Iraq, August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo
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US Urges Baghdad, Erbil to Carry Out ‘Constructive Dialogue’

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of Baghdad, Iraq, August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of Baghdad, Iraq, August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo

The United States has urged Baghdad and Erbil “to resolve their issues through constructive dialogue consistent with their constitutional responsibilities” after rising tension over the payment of salaries in the Kurdistan region.

Tensions have escalated between Iraq’s central government in Baghdad and the semiautonomous Kurdish region in the country’s north in a long-running dispute over the sharing of oil revenues.

The central government has accused the Kurdish regional authorities of making illegal deals and facilitating oil smuggling. Baghdad cut off funding for public sector salaries in the Kurdish region ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday. Kurdish authorities called the move “collective punishment” and threatened to retaliate.

“Resolving the salaries issue quickly sends a signal that Iraq is creating an environment in which US companies would want to invest,” US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Tuesday.

“Successful resolution would also send a positive signal on broader cooperation for the benefit of all Iraqis, such as reopening the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline and additional energy exploration, including with US companies,” Bruce said.

“US support for a strong and resilient Iraqi Kurdistan Region remains a crucial element of our relationship with Iraq,” she added.

Her remarks, which were seen as supportive of Baghdad, came as Sulaymaniyah - a city in the east of the Kurdistan Region – witnessed demonstrations on Wednesday over the delay in the payment of public sector salaries.

Employees in several departments announced an open-ended strike, saying they will not return to work unless the authorities pay them their wages.

The employees called on Erbil and the Baghdad government to assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities, saying their living conditions require action.