Egypt’s FM Says Cyprus, Greece Not Upset With Egyptian-Turkish Rapprochement

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. (KUNA)
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. (KUNA)
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Egypt’s FM Says Cyprus, Greece Not Upset With Egyptian-Turkish Rapprochement

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. (KUNA)
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. (KUNA)

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has reassured that Greece and Cyprus are not upset with the Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement.

Cyprus and Greece are not upset with such rapprochement, he said Shukry, adding: “We are informing them about all the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region.”

On Egyptian-Turkish relations, the foreign minister said Egypt is assessing Turkish policies hoping for the removal of all obstacles that hinder building mutual relations.

Egypt is working on exploring how Ankara is ready to have relations with Cairo on a proper basis and its compliance with international law, the minister added.

Regarding Libya, the eastern Mediterranean, and the Muslim Brotherhood, Shoukry said these matters are of great significance for Egypt's security and stability.

He also stressed the importance for Ankara to distance itself from anything that destabilizes Egypt.

The FM pointed out that if Turkey did not extradite Muslim Brotherhood members to Egypt or close Brotherhood-affiliated TV channels, the situation would be more difficult, saying all these policies are being monitored and ties could be established in case of any progress.

On Qatar, Shoukry said Egypt is implementing the decisions reached at the summit in AlUla, saying that committees have been formed to restore Egyptian-Qatari ties.

He reaffirmed that Egypt always seeks to be on good terms with its regional and international partners.

Regarding the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to visit Doha, the minister said such a trip would take place at the appropriate time.



EU’s Kallas Says She Hopes for Political Agreement on Easing Syria Sanctions

In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
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EU’s Kallas Says She Hopes for Political Agreement on Easing Syria Sanctions

In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing Syria sanctions can be reached at a gathering of European ministers next week.

EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Syria during a meeting in Brussels on Jan. 27.

European officials began rethinking their approach towards Syria after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president by opposition forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.

Some European capitals want to move quickly to suspend economic sanctions in a signal of support for the transition in Damascus. Others have sought to ensure that even if some sanctions are eased, Brussels retains leverage in its relationship with the new Syrian authorities.

“We are ready to do step-for-step approach and also to discuss what is the fallback position,” Kallas told Reuters in an interview.

“If we see that the developments are going in the wrong direction, then we are also willing to put them back,” she added.

Six EU member states called this month for the bloc to temporarily suspend sanctions on Syria in areas such as transport, energy and banking.

Current EU sanctions include a ban on Syrian oil imports and a freeze on any Syrian central bank assets in Europe.