Egypt-UK Inaugurate First Partnership Council

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry  and Lord Tariq Ahmad (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Lord Tariq Ahmad (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
TT

Egypt-UK Inaugurate First Partnership Council

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry  and Lord Tariq Ahmad (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Lord Tariq Ahmad (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry kicked off an official visit to London on Monday to inaugurate the first Egypt-UK partnership council.

The council will be co-chaired by Shoukry and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. It will include political consultations and discussions on economic and trade issues, with the participation of British Minister of State for Trade Policy Penny Mordaunt.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said this step comes in line with efforts to bolster bilateral cooperation in various fields, as Shoukry is scheduled to hold several meetings in this regard.

The FM first met with British Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations and the Commonwealth at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Lord Tariq Ahmad.

Hafez said Shoukry welcomed the open dialogue between Cairo and London on various issues of common interest, as well as the ongoing communication between the two sides.

They underscored the importance of launching the Egypt-UK partnership council, which will contribute to further enhancing joint action and bilateral cooperation, as well as increasing British investments in Egypt and the volume of trade exchange.

Talks also touched on the current global economic crisis and ways to mitigate its effects.

Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s participation in the upcoming international Ministerial Conference, which will be hosted by London on July 5, to promote freedom of religion or belief.

He cited Cairo’s achievements in this regard, as well as the state’s keenness to uphold the principles of citizenship, equality and non-discrimination among citizens.

Hafez said both ministers exchanged views on issues related to the human rights situation, in addition to several regional and international issues of common interest, including the situation in Libya and the ongoing developments there.



Emirates Airline to Resume Flights to Beirut

Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
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Emirates Airline to Resume Flights to Beirut

Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER planes are seen at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo

Emirates airline will resume flights to Beirut on February 1 after a four-month suspension triggered by conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a statement said on Friday.

The Middle East's biggest airline will first offer a daily return flight and scale up to two services per day from April 1, AFP quoted the statement as saying.

Emirates will also resume a daily flight to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, from February 1, it added.

The Dubai-based, state-owned carrier was one of several regional airlines to suspend Beirut services in late September as tensions soared between Israel and Hezbollah.

A truce came into effect on November 27, ending over a year of hostilities.