Egypt, Qatar Seek Further Rapprochement

Qatar's ambassador to Cairo, Salem Mubarak al-Shafi, with Egyptian Minister of Trade Nevine Gamea (the Egyptian government)
Qatar's ambassador to Cairo, Salem Mubarak al-Shafi, with Egyptian Minister of Trade Nevine Gamea (the Egyptian government)
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Egypt, Qatar Seek Further Rapprochement

Qatar's ambassador to Cairo, Salem Mubarak al-Shafi, with Egyptian Minister of Trade Nevine Gamea (the Egyptian government)
Qatar's ambassador to Cairo, Salem Mubarak al-Shafi, with Egyptian Minister of Trade Nevine Gamea (the Egyptian government)

Egypt and Qatar are intensifying their efforts to further develop their relations at the political and economic levels, within the framework of restoring bilateral ties.

Qatar's ambassador to Cairo Salem Mubarak al-Shafi discussed with Egypt's Minister of Trade Nevine Gamea boosting bilateral relations.

Shafi addressed the common desire of both countries to start a new phase of bilateral cooperation in various fields and at multiple levels.

Last January, Saudi Arabia witnessed the signing of the AlUla Agreement between Riyadh, Cairo, Manama, and Abu Dhabi, resorting ties with Doha after nearly four years of severed relations.

The meeting reviewed several economic issues of common interest.

The Egyptian minister said that the current period is witnessing intensive efforts to achieve further rapprochement at the political and economic levels.

Gamea urged the translation of agreements between the two countries political leadership into concrete projects that serve the two peoples' interests.

She also called for building on the "solid" ground laid by President Abdulfattah el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad during their meeting last August to enhance trade exchange rates and develop joint investments.

Gamea underscored the significance of establishing new frameworks for cooperation between Cairo and Doha in the commercial, investment, and industrial fields.

A statement issued by the ministry said that she called for forming an Egyptian-Qatari trade committee to follow up on all bilateral cooperation projects during the coming phase.

The minister stressed the importance of activating joint work between the two countries at the ministerial level to push the bilateral relations between Egypt and Qatar to "unprecedented levels."

Gamea extended through the Qatari ambassador an invitation to Qatar's Trade and Industry Minister Mohammad bin Hamad to visit Cairo "to discuss files and themes of joint work between the two countries during the next stage."

Several ministers and ambassadors from both countries met over the past few days to discuss relations and mechanisms for enhancing them.

Qatari ambassador stressed that both countries share a common desire to start a new phase of bilateral cooperation in various fields, saying, "Egypt represents a strategic depth for the regional countries."

Shafi also called for boosting the rates of intra-regional trade and joint investments between Egypt and Qatar "to reflect the great potentials of both countries and to translate the distinguished relations that bind the two brotherly peoples," the statement added.

"There is a consensus between the Egyptian and Qatari governments on a substantial number of cooperation files," the Qatari ambassador stressed.

He also hailed the recent economic reforms and urban development in Egypt.

He highlighted that Qatar has investments in the Egyptian market, especially in the financial and real estate sectors.



EU Could Lift Some Syria Sanctions Quickly

FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
TT

EU Could Lift Some Syria Sanctions Quickly

FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

European Union sanctions in Syria that obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid and hinder the country's recovery could be lifted swiftly, France's foreign minister said Wednesday.
The United States on Monday issued a sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule to try to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance.
Speaking to France Inter radio, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the EU could take a similar decision soon without giving precise timing, while adding that lifting more political sanctions would depend on how Syria's new leadership handled the transition and ensured exclusivity.
"There are other (sanctions), which today hinder access to humanitarian aid, which hinder the recovery of the country. These could be lifted quickly," said Barrot, who met Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday with Germany's foreign minister.
"Finally, there are other sanctions, which we are discussing with our European partners, which could be lifted, but obviously depending on the pace at which our expectations for Syria regarding women and security are taken into account."
Three European diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity said the EU would seek to agree to lift some sanctions by the time the bloc's 27 foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Jan. 27.
Two of the diplomats said one aim was to facilitate financial transactions to allow funds to return to the country, ease air transport and lessen sanctions targeting the energy sector to improve power supplies.
Syria suffers from severe power shortages, with state-supplied electricity available two or three hours per day in most areas. The caretaker government says it aims to provide electricity for up to eight hours per day within two months.
The US waivers allow some energy transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7, but do not remove any sanctions.