Egypt, Greece Discuss Boosting Cooperation within East Mediterranean Gas Forum

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (L) welcomes Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry (R) during their meeting in Athens, Greece, 11 April 2023. (EPA)
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (L) welcomes Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry (R) during their meeting in Athens, Greece, 11 April 2023. (EPA)
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Egypt, Greece Discuss Boosting Cooperation within East Mediterranean Gas Forum

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (L) welcomes Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry (R) during their meeting in Athens, Greece, 11 April 2023. (EPA)
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (L) welcomes Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry (R) during their meeting in Athens, Greece, 11 April 2023. (EPA)

Egypt and Greece are in talks to boost cooperation within the East Mediterranean Gas Forum framework and the tripartite cooperation mechanism that brings the two countries together with Cyprus.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. They discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to advance them, and regional and international developments.

The officials agreed on the importance of exchanging visions to develop bilateral and tripartite cooperation to achieve more security and stability for the three countries and strengthen cooperation.

Spokesperson of the Egyptian foreign ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said Shoukry began his visit to Athens by meeting his Greek counterpart. The ministers held a closed session, followed by extensive bilateral discussions between their delegations.

Shoukry conveyed the government's interest in facilitating Greek investments in Egypt, increasing the volume of trade exchange, and overcoming the obstacles facing Greek companies in Egypt.

The spokesman stated that the two sides praised the joint projects in green hydrogen production and new and renewable energy, namely the Greece-Egypt electricity interconnection project.

He noted that the project allows Egypt to strengthen the energy security of Europe and boosts its ability to produce and export energy while maintaining the common interest of both sides.

Shoukry also addressed several regional and international issues of common concern, including the current escalation in the Palestinian territories, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, developments in Syria, and elsewhere in the region.

He was keen to brief Greek officials on Egypt's efforts to achieve calm between the Palestinians and Israelis.

The FMs also tackled efforts to confront illegal immigration across the Mediterranean, combat terrorism, and coordinate security and military cooperation.

Abu Zeid added that the FM met with the Greek Prime Minister, which reflected the depth and strength of the strategic friendship between Egypt and Greece that is based on multiple political, economic, and cultural foundations.

Shoukry conveyed a verbal message from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, underscoring the strength of the strategic partnership between Egypt and Greece and appreciating the continuous development of these relations on various political and economic levels.

The FM affirmed Egypt's aspiration to explore more new areas of cooperation, which in turn requires working together to develop aspects of this cooperation in a way that contributes to making it a role model in relations between friendly countries.



Assad Intelligence Archive Sparks Controversy in Iraq

Archive image of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shaking hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Damascus (X) 
Archive image of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shaking hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Damascus (X) 
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Assad Intelligence Archive Sparks Controversy in Iraq

Archive image of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shaking hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Damascus (X) 
Archive image of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shaking hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Damascus (X) 

A recent visit to Damascus by Izzat al-Shabandar, the special envoy of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has stirred political tensions in Baghdad amid speculation that he was handed sensitive intelligence files from the Syrian regime.

The trip, which included a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has drawn criticism from within Iraq’s Coordination Framework, with some figures accusing the prime minister of using the visit to obtain the so-called “Assad intelligence archive” for political leverage ahead of parliamentary elections set for November.

The archive is believed to contain compromising material on Iraqi political and paramilitary figures, some of whom opposed Saddam Hussein’s regime or supported Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. Reports suggest that such information could be used in electoral rivalries.

Al-Sudani’s coalition, the Reconstruction and Development Alliance, has denied any such intentions. Coalition member Abdulhadi al-Saadaoui dismissed the rumors, stating: “The prime minister has no need for such tactics, especially given his broad popularity and growing support across Iraq.”

Since Assad’s fall in late 2024, speculation has grown around the fate of Syria’s intelligence files. Critics, including MP Youssef al-Kilabi, claim they could be exploited to damage opponents. Al-Kilabi alleged in a post on X that the archive had been handed to an Iraqi guest by former Syrian leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani.

Shabandar responded in a post of his own, saying he respected those who offered reasoned criticism, but dismissed what he called “electronic flies and stray dogs barking for their masters,” suggesting political motives behind the backlash.