Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Friday held a series of meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, engaging with his South Korean counterpart and fellow ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the BRICS group on pressing global and regional issues. In his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is also the current president of the UN Security Council, Abdelatty discussed developing bilateral relations as the two countries mark 30 years of diplomatic ties. He highlighted the growth in bilateral cooperation projects and Korean investment in Egypt, particularly in infrastructure and renewable energy. The minister also presented investment opportunities in Egypt's major projects, including a potential Korean industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Abdelatty praised South Korea's recent positions on the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and expressed his hope for continued coordination within the UN Security Council. On the issue of water security, he reiterated Egypt's rejection of unilateral actions in the eastern Nile Basin, stressing that the issue is "existential" for Egypt. At the OIC foreign ministers' coordination meeting, Abdelatty addressed the "unprecedented threats" facing the Palestinian people due to Israeli policies. He affirmed Egypt's "categorical rejection and complete condemnation of all attempts to displace Palestinians under any pretext," stating that this remains an unchangeable "red line." He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid. The minister also reviewed Egypt's fixed positions in support of stability and unity in Syria, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen. He also touched upon the agreement reached in Cairo this month between Iran and the IAEA, calling on OIC member states to support this diplomatic path. During the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting, organised by incoming chair India, Abdelatty discussed global challenges, particularly the lack of financing for sustainable development. He emphasized the effective role BRICS can play in addressing these challenges by strengthening the rules-based multilateral system, with the UN at its core, and called for a more just and equitable global economy. He stressed the importance of accelerating cooperation on joint projects in energy, manufacturing, and technology, andpromoting financial settlements in local currencies. Abdelatty also reiterated the need to reform the global financial and debt architecture to meet the needs of developing countries and ensure their access to concessional financing. On the Gaza war, he said Israel must bear full responsibility for the "unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe" and reiterated Egypt's rejection of displacement plans.
