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.



Sudan Welcomes Turkish Offer to Mediate with the UAE

Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran in Port Sudan on Saturday. (Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council/Facebook)
Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran in Port Sudan on Saturday. (Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council/Facebook)
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Sudan Welcomes Turkish Offer to Mediate with the UAE

Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran in Port Sudan on Saturday. (Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council/Facebook)
Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran in Port Sudan on Saturday. (Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council/Facebook)

The Sudanese government welcomed on Saturday Türkiye's offer to mediate between Sudan and the United States.

The mediation was presented by Turkish deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran, who is visiting Sudan.

Sudanese FM Ali Youssef told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sudan welcomes the initiative, describing the Turkish official’s visit as a “success”.

The FM had stressed in previous remarks the importance of negotiating with Abu Dhabi, adding that the “door for negotiations with the UAE will always be open.”

Duran visited the interim capital Port Sudan at the head of a delegation from his ministry.

The trip took place in wake of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s offer to Sudanese army commander and head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to mediate between Sudan and the UAE.