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Egypt, US Agree on Facing Climate Change Challenges

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt, US Agree on Facing Climate Change Challenges

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt and the US agreed on the need for joint action to achieve the goals of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in facing the challenges of climate change.

On Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed, in a telephone conversation with his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, that Egypt has made all the necessary arrangements to ensure the effective participation of official delegations, private sector representatives, NGOs, and civil society representatives concerned with climate change issues.

COP27 will be launched in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, with the participation of several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid indicated that the call touched on the recent Israeli elections and that Shoukry stressed the importance of avoiding any escalation or provocations against the Palestinian people.

The Minister underscored the importance of focusing all efforts on reviving the peace process after the formation of the new Israeli government.

Shoukry and Blinken also discussed human rights in Egypt.

The Egyptian foreign Minister reviewed Cairo’s most recent efforts within the framework of the National Strategy for Human rights, referring to the most recent decisions of the National Pardon Committee and the National Dialogue.

The spokesman pointed out that the two ministers affirmed their keenness to continue the dialogue between the two countries to deepen the US-Egypt strategic partnership and intensify cooperation and coordination mechanisms in facing global and regional challenges.

On Thursday, the US Embassy in Cairo announced that senior US officials from over 16 agencies and organizations would travel to Sharm El-Sheikh to “advance climate ambition and ensure a strong outcome” at the global conference.

The US delegation will be led by Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, and includes several senior officials, including Blinken.

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EU Cautiously Agrees Roadmap to Ease Sanctions on Syria in Wake of Assad’s Downfall

People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)
People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)
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EU Cautiously Agrees Roadmap to Ease Sanctions on Syria in Wake of Assad’s Downfall

People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)
People walk in front of the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (AFP)

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed to begin lifting sanctions on Syria, while insisting that the measures should be reimposed if they see any abuses by the country’s new rulers.

The EU started to impose asset freezes and travel bans on Syrian officials and organizations in 2011 in response to Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on protesters, which festered into a civil war.

The 27-nation bloc targeted 316 people and 86 entities accused of backing Syria’s former ruler. It is keen to lift those measures if Syria’s new leaders set the country on the path to a peaceful political future involving all minority groups and in which extremism and former allies Russia and Iran have no place.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ministers had agreed on a “roadmap” for easing sanctions. Speaking after chairing the meeting, she said, the aim was to lift those measures “that are most hindering the early buildup of the country and to move from there.”

She underlined that the ministers had only reached “a political agreement” - not one to start easing the measures immediately - and that “there are also technical issues to be solved” in the weeks ahead before any sanctions can be lifted.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani welcomed on Monday the EU's decision to lift sanctions, describing it as a “positive step” in a post on X.

Kallas said that an easing of sanctions “could give a boost to the Syrian economy and help the country get back on its feet.” But she added: “While we aim to move fast, we also are ready to reverse the course if the situation worsens.”

The ministers favor on a “snap back” mechanism to reimpose sanctions if they believe that Syria's new leaders are heading in the wrong direction.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the aim would be to lift restrictions on things like Syria’s infrastructure and energy sector “so that the country can develop itself again.” He said that “certain sanctions will stay in place, such as (on) weapons exports.”

Since Damascus fell on Dec. 8 and Assad fled to Moscow, Syria’s transition has appeared promising, but the new leadership has yet to lay out a clear vision of how the country will be governed.

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group – a former al-Qaeda affiliate that the EU and UN consider to be a terrorist organization – has established itself as Syria’s de facto rulers after coordinating with the southern fighters during the offensive late last year.

Veldkamp said that the restrictions on HTS itself would not be eased initially. “They’re the new ones in power. We want to see how their words are translated into actions,” he told reporters.