Egypt, US Exchange Views on Region’s Crises

Shoukry participates at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) meeting. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Shoukry participates at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) meeting. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TT

Egypt, US Exchange Views on Region’s Crises

Shoukry participates at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) meeting. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Shoukry participates at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) meeting. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Egypt and the United States have stressed continuous coordination to achieve stability in the region.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed bilateral ties during a phone call.

Spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Hafez, said the two ministers discussed reinforcing bilateral relations.

They also exchanged points of view regarding several regional issues to achieve stability and security in the region.

Shoukry and Blinken led the US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue in Washington in November.

In another context, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry held consultations with a number of states and parties to learn about their visions on different topics regarding climate change, as part of ongoing preparations for hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

Egypt is scheduled to host the annual conference in November this year in Sharm El-Sheikh.

In a statement, the ministry said the consultations were held via videoconference with the United States, Russia, Japan, Zambia, and a number of countries that share the same visions, as well as a group of African negotiators.

During the talks, the outcomes of the COP26 that was held in Glasgow were assessed, and the ongoing preparations for the November conference were discussed, the ministry added.

Shoukry took part in a virtual Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) meeting at the ministerial level.

The meeting was also attended by US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, COP President Alok Sharma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change Ruslan Edelgeriev, and Secretary-General of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Patricia Espinosa.



Israeli Ambassador to US Says Hezbollah Cease-fire Deal Could Come 'Within Days'

Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
TT

Israeli Ambassador to US Says Hezbollah Cease-fire Deal Could Come 'Within Days'

Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)

The Israeli ambassador to Washington says that a cease-fire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached "within days."
Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday that there remained "points to finalize" and that any deal required agreement from the government. But he said "we are close to a deal" and that "it can happen within days."
Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of not adhering to a UN resolution that ended the 2006 war between the sides that made similar provisions, and Israel has concerns that Hezbollah could stage a Hamas-style cross-border attack from southern Lebanon if it maintains a heavy presence there. Lebanon says Israel also violated the 2006 resolution. Lebanon complains about military jets and naval ships entering Lebanese territory even when there is no active conflict.
It is not clear whether Lebanon would agree to the demand.
The optimism surrounding a deal comes after a top US envoy held talks between the sides last week in a bid to clinch a deal.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas´ raid on southern Israel, setting off more than a year of fighting. That escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and later an Israeli ground incursion into the country´s south.
Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli cities and towns, including some 250 on Sunday.