Egypt, Greece Say they Share Same Interests in East Med

The Egyptian President and the Greek Prime Minister during their press conference in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency)
The Egyptian President and the Greek Prime Minister during their press conference in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency)
TT

Egypt, Greece Say they Share Same Interests in East Med

The Egyptian President and the Greek Prime Minister during their press conference in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency)
The Egyptian President and the Greek Prime Minister during their press conference in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt and Greece have stressed that they have similar interests East of the Mediterranean, as they expressed willingness on boosting ties under the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism with Cyprus.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on Monday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the presence of high-ranking Egyptian officials including Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla and Intelligence chief Major General Abbas Kamel.

Sisi and Mitsotakis affirmed that the East Med Gas Forum is essential within the framework of the consistency of the two countries’ interests in the eastern Mediterranean region.

The two sides agreed that the forum would open new horizons for cooperation and investments in energy and gas among the region’s countries.

Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness to enhance the mechanisms of political, military, commercial and energy cooperation with Greece.

The president also expressed willingness to boost trilateral cooperation among Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus to meet their joint interests and goals in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Mitsotakis affirmed Greece’s appreciation of the firm relations with Egypt, saying they represent a model of constructive cooperation among Mediterranean countries.

He asserted that Greece would remain a supporter of Egypt in the European Union.

“I have reassured the prime minister about Egypt’s position on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is based on the necessity for all nations to respect international law and the UN charter," Sisi said.

"I emphasized our solidarity with Greece against any practices that could amount to a breach of its sovereignty.”



Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
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Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)

Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that US-President elect Donald Trump agreed on the steps that President Joe Biden’s administration will take to ensure the success of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel approved the ceasefire on Tuesday night after Lebanon had already agreed to it.

The sources, which followed up on the negotiations for the 60-day truce, said the steps call for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and their weapons from the South where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is deployed. In return, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon.

More negotiations through American mediators will take place throughout the process.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump “gave his blessing” to the process during his meeting with Biden at the White House two weeks ago.

A committee led by the US will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal. France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL are also part of the committee.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Hezbollah’s withdrawal will take place in three 20-day phases. The first withdrawal will take place in the western sector.

It will coincide with an Israeli pullout from areas it occupied in that region. A strengthened Lebanese army force and UNIFIL troops will deploy in their place.

The second phase will cover the central sector and follow the same process.

The residents of the frontline southern villages will not be allowed to return to their homes immediately until they are deemed safe and after ensuring that no Hezbollah members or weapons remain there.

Residents of the so-called second and third line of villages south of the Litani River will be allowed to return to their homes immediately.

The source expected the US to play an “effective role” in the mechanism to oversee the withdrawal. It did not clarify whether any American forces will take part in the process.

It revealed that Britain and other countries will “exert special efforts to verify whether illegitimate weapons are being smuggled to Hezbollah.”

The five-member committee will not replace the tripartite committee already in place and that includes Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.