Egypt Calls for African Coordination Meeting Ahead of COP-27

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attends a meeting organized on the occasion of the visit of Green America's Mission to Egypt on Sunday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attends a meeting organized on the occasion of the visit of Green America's Mission to Egypt on Sunday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Calls for African Coordination Meeting Ahead of COP-27

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attends a meeting organized on the occasion of the visit of Green America's Mission to Egypt on Sunday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attends a meeting organized on the occasion of the visit of Green America's Mission to Egypt on Sunday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt on Sunday urged the African states to hold a meeting to coordinate the continent’s stances in preparation for the COP27 Climate Summit, which it will host in Sharm el-Sheikh next November.

During a workshop held by Morocco via videoconference on “The challenges of mobilizing capital markets to finance the transition to a sustainable energy market,” Egyptian Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union Mohamed Omar Gad said Cairo invited the African states to hold the consultative session on the issues related to climate and energy before the Climate Summit.

The workshop in Morocco comes on the sidelines of a conference for African ministers of finance, planning, and economic development, which will kick off Monday in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

The coordination session for which Egypt called comes to complete the meetings held during the latest African Union Summit in February in Addis Ababa to consolidate a unified African stance on climate issues and present it in COP27.

Egypt is seeking to increase its dependence on renewable energy from 18 percent to 45 percent by 2025, according to Gad, who urged the African states to focus on achieving just transition to renewable energy and providing sustainable energy to the green energy projects in Africa in addition to following up the implementation of commitments which Africa received in previous climate summits.

Also during the workshop, Jean-Paul Adam, Director for Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resources Management in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa said African countries still represent less than one percent of the share green bonds issued to finance renewable energy and green economy projects, according to Egypt’s official news agency, MENA.

In a related development, Green America's Mission to Egypt, a US delegation comprising representatives of various companies and financing bodies, is visiting Cairo to observe the chances of investing in the green energy domain in Egypt.

On the occasion of their visit, the office of the US special presidential climate envoy and the American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo organized a meeting to discuss the green energy issue.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry participated on Sunday in the event, which he said is meant to enhance relations between the two countries at all levels and to build on the outcomes of the strategic dialogue between Egypt and the US.



For First Time in 25 Years, Lebanese Govt Drops ‘Resistance’ Clause from Ministerial Statement

President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)
President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)
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For First Time in 25 Years, Lebanese Govt Drops ‘Resistance’ Clause from Ministerial Statement

President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)
President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)

The new Lebanese government dropped on Monday the “resistance” - Hezbollah - clause from its ministerial statement in a departure from statements of successive cabinets since the year 2000.

Israel withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon in 2000, marking Hezbollah’s rise to prominence in Lebanese internal affairs. Since then, the “resistance” clause had dictated Lebanon’s decision of war and peace.

Salam’s government approved its statement, and it will be referred to parliament for approval.

Following a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Paul Morcos said President Joseph Aoun had praised the government for its rapid drafting of the statement – a process that had often taken several weeks.

The Taif Accord makes up 80 percent of the draft, while the president’s inaugural speech makes up the rest, he told reporters.

The minister stressed that the statement underscores the government’s commitment to liberating all Lebanese territories and demands that the state have monopoly over the possession of weapons.

It is also committed to United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 and steering Lebanon clear of regional conflicts.

Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a copy of the draft, which stressed “Lebanon’s right to defend itself in line with the UN Charter. The state is fully responsible for the security of the country and defending its borders.”

Previous ministerial statements had said that the state was “committed to the truce agreement and seeking to liberate occupied Lebanese territories through all legitimate means.” The statements had “underscored the Lebanese citizens’ right in resisting Israeli occupation and repelling Israeli attacks” - a reference to Hezbollah.

State reforms

The new government statement also declared that it was prioritizing state reforms and fortifying its sovereignty. The state, it continued, “had endured decades of shortcomings that had affected its efficacy, diminished its influence and undermined its authority... Today, we must meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people and restore the trust of the citizens.”

“We want a state that assumes its full responsibility for the security of the country and in defending its borders. Such a state repels aggressors, protects its citizens and fortifies its independence,” it went on to say.

The statement underlined the government’s commitment to its pledges, “most notably the implementation of resolution 1701 in full, as well as other resolutions that safeguard Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence within its internationally recognized borders and in line with the 1949 truce agreement between Lebanon and Israel.”

Commitment to national pact

The new government said it was “committed - in line with the national pact - in taking the necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation, imposing its sovereignty throughout the country and deploying the army in internationally recognized border areas.”

The government “underscored Lebanon’s right to self-defense against any attack in line with the UN Charter. It calls for implementing the president’s call about the state’s right to monopolize the possession of weapons.”

It called for holding discussions over a “comprehensive defense strategy that would be part of national security strategy on diplomatic, economic and military levels.”

“We aspire for a state that possesses the decision of war and peace and for its army to adopt a defensive combat creed,” it added.

Rejection of naturalization

The government tackled economic and social affairs, as well as the issue of Palestinian refugees. It expressed its rejection of their naturalization in Lebanon, saying it was committed to their right to return to their homeland and the establishment of their independent state.

Moreover, it stressed that the Lebanese state “has the right to impose its authority throughout Lebanese territories including Palestinian refugee camps.”

“We want a state that boasts effective public administrations and institutions, and that believes in justice for all without exception,” it continued. It underscored the importance of an independent judiciary according to the highest international standards.

The statement also addressed the issue of people’s deposits that have been frozen in banks. It said tackling the issue will be a priority and the depositors’ rights will be protected.

It also spoke of wanting to achieve economic growth and fixing the electricity sector.