Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Saturday with secretary-general of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Thomas Greminger Egyptian efforts to combat irregular migration and human trafficking, according to Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid. Shoukry presented Egypt's vision on migration, saying that it could be a positive phenomenon provided that it is administered through a safe and organised framework. He highlighted Egypt's success in combating human trafficking networks and stopping migrant boats departing Egyptian shores for Europe since September 2016, which directly benefits the European Union. After a migrant boat sank off the Egyptian coast in late 2016, killing some 200 people, Egypt passed a law mandating stiff penalties for human trafficking. Cairo has been working with European nations in recent years to tackle the migrant crisis. Shoukry also expressed Egypt's aspiration for support from the OSCE in the field of water security and the importance of supporting the cooperative course between Nile Basin countries in line with international law. Greminger was keen on being informed of Egypt's vision on boosting the strategic partnership between OSCE and Mediterranean partner countries in issues related to migration, given the growing connection between irregular migration and terrorism. He said that he values Egypt's active participation in various meetings and summits held between partner countries over the phenomenon. Greminger also said that he has paid special attention to the Egyptian Armed Forces' ongoing comprehensive military operation launched on Friday. He said that his organisation possesses expertise and cooperation programmes – including an exchange of information, border control and cyber security – that could be used to help Egypt strengthen its capabilities in the field of combating terrorism. The meeting also included discussion of Egyptian efforts to resolve the crises in Syria, Libya, and Yemen, as well as economic developments in Egypt and the country's promising investment atmosphere. This is the first meeting between Greminger and Shoukry since the secretary-general assumed his post in July 2017.
