Shoukry, Lavrov Meet in Moscow, Discuss Cooperation, Int’l Developments

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)
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Shoukry, Lavrov Meet in Moscow, Discuss Cooperation, Int’l Developments

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)

Egypt and Russia stressed on Tuesday the importance of developing bilateral relations between their countries at all levels.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Moscow for talks on regional and international issues, notably the Ukrainian crisis.

At a joint press conference, Shoukry said the talks focused on the common goal of developing Egyptian-Russian relations for the best interests of their people and achieving economic growth.

He said their discussions tackled regional and international affairs, including the developments in the Palestinian territories, Libya and Syria.

For his part, Lavrov said: “Views were exchanged on regional and international issues, and an emphasis was placed on the need to continue close cooperation at the United Nations and other international arenas.”

On Ukraine, he stated that the Russian army had taken all necessary measures to prevent the West from achieving their plans in Ukraine.

He added that Moscow was open to serious proposals for a full and comprehensive settlement to the conflict.

Moreover, he revealed that Shoukry delivered to him a message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the issue, stressing that Russia was currently assessing Egypt’s “balanced” approach to the war in Ukraine.

The message, he revealed, urged Russia to “stop its actions in Ukraine in order for negotiations to succeed.”

Shoukry stressed that Egypt, along with the whole international community, are keen on seeing an end to the war in Ukraine.

Egypt has been exerting political and diplomatic efforts to help end the conflict in a way that meets the interests of all parties, added the FM.

Blinken had met with Shoukry on Monday during a visit to Cairo.

On regional developments, Shoukry said Cairo was coordinating with Moscow to advance the settlement in the Palestinian territories and work towards implementing the two-state solution.



Lebanon ‘Seriously’ Dealing with Israeli Threat to Maintain its Occupation of Southern Regions

Israeli tanks are seen on a road following the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, near the Israel-Lebanon border in northern Israel, December 29, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli tanks are seen on a road following the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, near the Israel-Lebanon border in northern Israel, December 29, 2024. (Reuters)
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Lebanon ‘Seriously’ Dealing with Israeli Threat to Maintain its Occupation of Southern Regions

Israeli tanks are seen on a road following the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, near the Israel-Lebanon border in northern Israel, December 29, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli tanks are seen on a road following the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, near the Israel-Lebanon border in northern Israel, December 29, 2024. (Reuters)

Israel announced that it may not withdraw from regions of southern Lebanon that it occupied during its latest war with Hezbollah, sparking alarm in the country.

Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv may inform Washington that it may not pull out from the South at the end of the 60-day deadline stipulated in the ceasefire agreement that ended the war.

Yedioth Ahronoth said Israel is hoping that the American officials will “understand’ this position, especially since Lebanon has not met its commitments towards the ceasefire.

Lebanese military sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that they have not received any information about the withdrawal.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese ministerial source stressed that the reports may be Israel’s attempt at “testing the waters” and perhaps an attempt “to pressure the Americans and Lebanon to complete the Lebanese army’s deployment in the South at a faster pace”.

The Lebanese government is “seriously” handling these reports and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is intensifying his internal and international contacts to warn against Israel’s attempt to remain in the South, added the source.

He will bring up this issue at cabinet after completing his talks, which include the US, it went on to say.

The US heads the committee tasked with monitoring the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem warned that his party was ready to retaliate to the Israeli violations of the truce.

“Our patience may run out during or after the end of the deadline,” he warned, while holding the Lebanese state responsible for implementing the ceasefire.

“The resistance (Hezbollah) is not bound by any time schedule. The resistance’s leadership decides when and how to resist,” he stated.

“Our morale remains high despite the wounds and pain,” he went on to say.

Moreover, he noted that throughout the 64-day war with Hezbollah, Israel only managed to advance “a few hundred meters” in Lebanon. “It failed to advance deeper thanks to the power of the resistance,” he declared. “We confronted an unprecedented attack, persevered and broke Israel’s might.”

Member of parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s Liberation and Development bloc MP Qassem Hashem stressed that Lebanon will not allow Israel to remain an hour more in the South as soon as the deadline expires.

“We will be confronted by a very dangerous situation should Israel fail to withdraw from the territories it occupied,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He noted Israel’s incursion into Syrian territories and Lebanon’s commitment to the ceasefire; and yet, it seems that Israel is keen on occupying more areas.

“Lebanon has not officially received any request to amend the pullout date. Should Israel remain in Lebanon beyond the deadline, then all international norms and treaties give Lebanon and its people the right to fully liberate their territories through all means necessary,” he stressed.

Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad said Israel is “committing shameful violations to compensate for its losses on the field.”

“It is everyone’s duty to preserve national sovereignty,” he stated after meeting with Berri.

Talks with the speaker focused on the ceasefire committee’s work, as well as the upcoming presidential elections.

On the ground and after 40 days since the ceasefire took effect, Israel continued its violations of Lebanese sovereignty. It blew up houses in the towns of Hayyan, Markaba, al-Taybeh and Rab Thalathin.

Israeli artillery targeted the vicinity of the Imam al-Sadr sports complex west of Mays al-Jabal town.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that an Israeli unit advanced on the town of Bourj al-Mamlouk and took up position in the area, blocking a road with barbed wire.

The Lebanese army, in turn, closed three roads in the town that would give access to the Marjeyoun plain, thereby preventing any Israeli advance there.