Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry headed Monday to Brussels, Belgium, leading Egypt's delegation in the meeting of the council of partnership between Egypt and the European Union, according to an official statement. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will represent the European side in the meeting, which will discuss the Egyptian-European relationship and deepening the Egyptian-European partnership based on the document of priorities that specifies fields of cooperation between the two sides in the coming three years, foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zaid said. Abu Zaid added that Shoukry will head to the French capital city of Paris from Brussels on Tuesday in a visit to target boosting Egyptian-French bilateral relations. During his visit to Paris, Shoukry will meet a number of French officials, including French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the National Assembly François de Rugy, and Christian Cambon, the secretary of the Managing Committee, deputy-chairperson of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces, to discuss supporting and boosting Egyptian-French relations in economic, cultural, and military fields. Shoukry will also discuss with French officials coordination and consultation in regional issues. He will meet with Angel Gurria, the secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Egypt's candidacy for heading the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is at the top of discussions in France. Egypt's minister will meet a number of permanent delegates to UNESCO in presence of the Egyptian candidate to head UNESCO, Mushira Khattab. Shoukry will explain Egypt's stances and vision towards regional and international crises during press interviews with Jeune Afrique Magazine and France 24 TV, the statement read.
