Staff report: CAIRO, June 28, 2018 - The consolidation of partnership between Egypt and France in a number of fields and regional issues of mutual concern were the subject of consideration at President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's meeting Thursday with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. President Sisi emphasised in the discussions with Mr Le Drian the importance of sustaining coordination and consultation between the two countries on various regional and international issues of mutual concern with a view to confronting the existing challenges, the Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Bassam Radi said in a statement following the meeting. On top of these challenges, the president pointed out, are the crises that the region is passing through and whose consequences have extended to the Mediterranean region and the world. Attending the Thursday were the Head of the General Intelligence Service, Abbas Kamel, and France's Ambassador to Cairo Stephane Romatet. For his part, Mr Le Drian conveyed to President Sisi the greetings of President Emmanuel Macron and emphasised that France is esteeming its firm and distinguished ties with Egypt, noting in this regard that Egypt is a pillar for stability in the Middle East region; hence the keenness of his country on consolidating relations with Egypt at all levels, Spokesman Radi said. On the situation in Libya and ways of pushing forward the efforts for political settlement there, the two sides emphasised their clear will to seek the restoration of security and stability in Libya especially in view of the direct link between security and stability in Libya on the one hand and the security of Egypt and the Mediterranean region on the other hand. The two sides stressed the importance of holding elections as the sole source for legitimacy in Libya. Discussions at the meeting reflected an accord of views that the scene in Libya has witnessed relative progress and that there should be action to build on such progress in spite of the existence of some challenges that need to be addressed, the presidency spokesman said. The two sides also stressed the necessity for lending support to efforts aimed at unifying the Libyan army and improving the security environment in Libya. On the latest developments in Syria, the discussions dealt with ways of pushing forward a political solution, lending support to efforts aimed at writing a new constitution and the preparations for elections. In this regard, President Sisi reiterated Egypt's position in favour of such a political solution that would preserve the entity and unity of the Syrian state and maintain its territorial integrity, Spokesman Radi said. President Sisi also stressed in this connection the importance of exerting every effort to stop the bloodshed in Syria and resume negotiations on the basis of the political solution's frameworks. On the Palestinian cause, President Sisi reiterated Egypt's backing to international efforts and initiatives for the achievement of a just and comprehensive settlement in accordance with the international frames of reference agreed upon and on the basis of the two-state solution within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Palestine, the presidency spokesman said. During the meeting, the French foreign minister expressed his country's willingness to bolster cultural ties with Egypt, referring in this context to the Egyptian Grand Museum project which is due to be inaugurated shortly. For his part, President Sisi welcomed this attitude and asserted Egypt's keenness on deepening cultural co-operation and partnership with France.
