CAIRO, May 2, 2018 - Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri is due to take part at the opening session, scheduled for Thursday, of the South Sudanese National Liberation Council (NLC), an offshoot of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLA), the country's ruling party. Shoukri's presence at the meetings, which is scheduled to last until Saturday, shows the close and exemplary relations that exist between Egypt and South Sudan, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement yesterday. Shoukri is taking part in the event on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Spokesman Abu Zeid said. He added that South Sudan's invitation to Egypt to participate in the conference along with a few other African heads of state reflects the deep and special nature of the Cairo-Juba relations. The spokesman added that the meeting was aimed at backing the SPLA reunification efforts. Egypt's participation is part of its persistent efforts to maintain peace and stability in South Sudan, he added. Cairo has provided support for South Sudanese President Salva Kiir's initiative to form a national dialogue committee; moreover it has hosted and co-brokered the talks of the Arusha Agreement on the reunification of South Sudan's ruling party, he said. In a related development, Foreign Minister Shoukri held a meeting with a delegation of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) and stressed the importance of the international community, especially the United States, intensifying efforts to help build confidence and encourage the Palestinians and Israelis to go into negotiations with the aim of realising a just and comprehensive peace in line with the legitimate international resolutions. During the meeting, Shoukri said that everyone should understand the suffering of the Palestinian people due to the lack of hope of reaching a solution to their cause. The minister also outlined to the delegation the economic, security and life pressures that the Palestinians are experiencing. Such pressures, he said, require the rallying of efforts to find a suitable exit from the deadlock in the peace process.
