Cairo - At the end of his European tour, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held several meetings with a number of officials in Lithuania, including his counterpart Linas Antanas Linkevičius, Prime Minster Saulius Skvernelis and President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Shoukry delivered a letter to President Grybauskaitė from President Abdel Fatah al- Sisi, according to an official statement Tuesday. The statement added that Shoukry was keen to discuss several issues of mutual interest during his meetings. In a visit, considered the first by an Egyptian official to Lithuania, Shoukry affirmed that the Egyptian government wishes to enhance its relations with all the Baltic States, including Lithuania, in all fields, especially in investment, renewable energy and information technology. Backing Egyptian candidate Moushira Khattab for the UNESCO Director-General post was on the top of Shoukry's priorities during talks with the Lithuanian officials, according to the statement. Shoukry told the Lithuanian officials that all criteria for efficiency and professionalism prove that Khattab deserves the position, especially since it's the Arabs' turn to hold it, according to the geographic rotation among all countries. From their side, the Lithuanian officials praised the "positive steps" taken by the Egyptian government regarding economic reform, enhancing safety and stability, and countering terrorism, according to the statements. On Saturday, August 22, Shoukry started his three-day European tour, which included Russia, Estonia and Lithuania. He delivered the three states' leaders letters from President Sisi.
