Egypt, Jordan Boost Cooperation to Deepen Strategic Ties

Part of the Egyptian-Jordanian consultation session in Cairo on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Part of the Egyptian-Jordanian consultation session in Cairo on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt, Jordan Boost Cooperation to Deepen Strategic Ties

Part of the Egyptian-Jordanian consultation session in Cairo on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Part of the Egyptian-Jordanian consultation session in Cairo on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt and Jordan held an expanded consultation session in Cairo on Tuesday, co-chaired by Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi.

Both sides agreed during the meeting to bolster cooperation in the field of development.

Discussions tackled various issues of common interest at the economic and investment levels, in light of the aggravating international and regional challenges impacting regional security and stability.

They also touched on ways to promote future relations and bolster trade exchange and transportation, in line with the directives of the two countries’ leaderships to advance various frameworks and mechanisms of bilateral cooperation in all fields.

From the Egyptian side, the session was attended by Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea. On the Jordanian side, Finance Minister Mohamad al-Ississ, Trade and Supply Minister Yousef al-Shamali, in addition to senior officials from both countries.

According to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement, both sides agreed to remove restrictions that limit the flow of trade between the two countries.

They further decided to form a joint working group from the relevant ministries to facilitate procedures and address any future challenges, as well as identify two points of contact for this goal in the embassies of the two countries.

The ministers also tackled Egyptian-Jordanian bilateral projects in many sectors to follow up their implementation process and maximize their common interests.



Security Council Urges Unity in Lebanon, Welcomes Aoun’s Election

This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun (C) and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) meeting with the new prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on January 14, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun (C) and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) meeting with the new prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on January 14, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Security Council Urges Unity in Lebanon, Welcomes Aoun’s Election

This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun (C) and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) meeting with the new prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on January 14, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun (C) and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) meeting with the new prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on January 14, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The UN Security Council has encouraged all parties in Lebanon to demonstrate “renewed unity,” saying PM designate Nawaf Salam should “swiftly” form a new government.

In a presidential statement unanimously adopted on Lebanon, the Council welcomed on Thursday the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, but it “expressed concern about the reported violations” in reference to ongoing Israeli attacks.

The Council “reaffirmed its support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence in accordance with Council resolution 1701 (2006).”

The statement came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Lebanon for meetings with top officials.

The Council welcomed the recent election of President Joseph Aoun and the designation of Salam as Prime Minister, describing the recent developments as “a long-awaited and critical step” to overcome Lebanon’s political and institutional crisis.

“It encouraged all parties in that country to demonstrate renewed unity and the new Lebanese authorities to swiftly form a government.”

Last week, the Security Council members held closed consultations on Lebanon to receive an update on the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement between Israel and Lebanon ahead of the expiry of the 60-day deadline outlined in the agreement for the Israeli army to withdraw south of the Blue Line and, in parallel, for the Lebanese military to deploy to positions south of the Litani river.