By Ashraf Sadek: Egypt confirms the importance of the strategic relations with the United States and Cairo's keenness on boosting co-operation and coordination with Washington on issues of shared interest to help the two countries confront the current regional challenges, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi affirmed on Thursday. At a meeting with the Senior Advisor, Jared Kushner, and the Special Representative for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, who arrived in Cairo Thursday for talks with officials on the latest regional developments, President Sisi praised the long-term partnership between Egypt and the US in confronting the current regional challenges. Speaking to the visiting officials and their accompanying delegation, President Sisi said that Egypt fully supported any international effort or initiative that was aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian problem, in accordance with the already approved resolutions and the two-state solution, which calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the pre-June 5, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The president then reviewed with Mr Kushner and Mr Greenblatt, the Egyptian efforts to effect a reconciliation between the Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas, reduce tension in the Gaza Strip and ease the suffering of the Gaza residents. Last Month, President Sisi ordered the Rafah Border Crossing, which provides Gaza residents with a vital link to the outside world, to be kept open during the Holy Fasting Month of Ramadan. President Sisi also talked about Egypt's continuous contacts with all the parties concerned, to push forward any effort aimed at the resumption of peace talks between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. The president emphasised to Mr Kushner and Mr Greenblatt that reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the pivotal Palestinian problem would create a new status that would help bring about stability and security for all the countries of the Middle East region. President Sisi also told the two US officials and their delegation about Egypt's counter-terrorism efforts, which are being exerted in conjunction with the government's endeavours to achieve socio-economic development, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said in his round-up of the meeting. Mr Kushner noted that Egypt and the United States were bound together by a strategic partnership and strong relations, Spokesman Radi said. He asserted that the stability of Egypt was crucial to the stability of the Middle East region and that the US supported the economic reform programme that Egypt was now pursuing. "The US Administration fully appreciates and supports Egypt's efforts to combat terrorism and extremism as well as Cairo's endeavours to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian problem," Mr Kushner was quoted by Ambassador Radi as telling President Sisi. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and the Acting Intelligence Agency Chief, Major-General Abbas Kamel, attended the meeting.
