Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry received on Monday his Somali counterpart Abshir Omar Jama in Cairo as part of the official delegation headed by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre. Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, said that the meeting addressed the emphasis on the specificity and history of Egyptian-Somali relations, and the common desire to strengthen bilateral relations and coordination in files of common interest. This is especially in light of the positive momentum witnessed in relations between the two countries under the direct guidance of the political leaders of the two countries during their meetings and numerous contacts recently. Shoukry stressed Egypt's full solidarity with Somalia in the face of terrorism and its constant readiness to support Somali capabilities in this field, as well as in dealing with the difficult humanitarian and development challenges faced by Somalia as a result of the drought wave sweeping the country. He also expressed Egypt's permanent readiness to provide the necessary medical and food assistance to face the repercussions of this crisis. The Foreign Minister stressed the importance Egypt attaches to the security and stability of Somalia, especially in light of its strategic location overlooking the entrance to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which confirms that the stability and safety of Somalia and supporting its ability to confront terrorist organizations are an integral part of Egypt's national security priorities. The meeting also allowed the two sides to discuss a number of areas of bilateral cooperation, including the memorandums of understanding to be signed between the prime ministers of the two countries during the visit, in addition to assessing the security situation in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region in general, and ways to support the role of the African Union peacekeeping operation in Somalia. For his part, the Somali minister praised the existing cooperation in the field of health, education and others, stressing the full confidence that Egypt enjoys among the Somali people. He also thanked Egypt for the training courses organized to build Somali capacities in various fields, as well as providing scholarships for students from Somalia. At the end of the meeting, the two ministers stressed their common desire to continue consultations and coordination on all issues of interest to the two countries and achieve the interests of the Egyptian and Somali peoples. Later on Monday, Shoukry also received the newly appointed head of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai. He stressed the importance of the role and tasks of the MFO aimed at consolidating peace through the implementation of the peace treaty and all relevant protocols and understandings. During the meeting, the two sides praised the success of the multinational force for decades in consolidating peace in the region and building trust between the parties to the peace treaty, which also strengthened cooperation in other areas, in particular the fight against terrorism. The Foreign Minister was also keen to thank the countries contributing elements to the force, and the countries that participate in financing its work, foremost of which is the USA, which has the largest contribution in this regard.
