Egypt, Bulgaria Bolster Military, Industrial Cooperation

The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)
The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)
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Egypt, Bulgaria Bolster Military, Industrial Cooperation

The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)
The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)

Egypt and Bulgaria have bolstered their military and industrial cooperation to support Cairo’s sustainable development strategies.

Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsi pointed to the ministry’s keenness to benefit from Bulgaria’s expertise in various fields, and to cooperate with several international companies in the field of transferring and localizing modern technologies in Egypt.

"This comes in line with Egypt’s goal to develop industrial, technical and technological capacities to support its sustainable development strategies by relying on local labor," Morsi explained.

His remarks were made on Saturday during a meeting with Bulgaria’s ambassador to Cairo Deyan Angelov Katratchev. The two men discussed the means of bolstering cooperation in various industrial fields.

According to a cabinet statement, Morsi affirmed that his meeting with Katratchev emphasized keenness to strengthen strategic partnership in different fields between the two countries to benefit both peoples.

He underscored the ministry’s main role to meet the demands and needs of the armed forces and the police in terms of ammunition, weapons and equipment, the statement added.

Katratchev said opportunities are available to enhance military and civil cooperation with Egypt, in light of the great economic potentials both countries possess.

He hoped the meeting would play a major role in opening new horizons for investment and cooperation between military production companies.

The ambassador further hailed Cairo’s pivotal role in the Middle East and African region and its counter-terrorism efforts.



Israeli Official Says Hamas is Only Obstacle to Release of Hostages

Destroyed buildings stand inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Destroyed buildings stand inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
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Israeli Official Says Hamas is Only Obstacle to Release of Hostages

Destroyed buildings stand inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Destroyed buildings stand inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Israel is fully committed to reaching an agreement to return its hostages from Gaza but faces obstruction from Hamas, a senior Israeli foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of the hostages," foreign ministry director general Eden Bar Tal told a briefing with reporters.

Both Israel and Hamas are under pressure from outgoing US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump to reach a deal before the Jan. 20 inauguration. But the sides have come close before, only to have talks collapse over various disagreements.

Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Gaza — at least a third of whom it believes were killed during the Oct. 7 attack or died in captivity.

The first batch of hostages to be released is expected to be made up mostly of women, older people and people with medical conditions, according to the Israeli, Egyptian and Hamas officials.