Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held in Brussels a political dialogue session with the High Pepresentative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. The talks were held following the end of the 8th session of the Egyptian-EU partnership council. Shoukry hailed efforts to strengthen the institutional framework of Egyptian-EU relations, crowned by the convocation of the eighth session of the Egyptian-EU partnership council, spokesman for the foreign ministry Ahmed Hafez said. Regional and international issues figured high in the talks between Shoukry and the EU official, and the two sides expressed keenness on coordinating stances over issues of mutual interest. Shoukry underlined the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive peace in the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution in order to realise stability and lasting peace in the Middle East region, the spokesman said. As for the Libyan civil war, Shoukry underlined the importance of pushing forward efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis without any foreign pressure in order to achieve security and stability in the country. Talks also tackled the Syrian crisis and the importance of finding a political solution that preserves the integrity of Syrian lands. The two sides welcomed agreements reached recently between the two warring Yemeni sides, saying it is an important step on the road of reaching a comprehensive solution. Mogherini lauded the Egyptian role in achieving Palestinian reconciliation and calm in the Gaza Strip. She also expressed the EU's support for the two-state solution. The two sides also discussed the conditions in the African continent with Egypt taking over the rotating presidency of the African Union in February. source: Ahram online
