Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and his Egyptian counterpart, Moustafa Madbouly, chaired today an expanded session of discussions between the two governments at the headquarters of the Egyptian cabinet in the New Administrative Capital.
The session touched upon many issues stemming from the consensus that was reached between the ministers of the two countries earlier, in addition to opening prospects for cooperation in many fields, especially increasing trade exchange and cooperation in the sectors of health, agriculture, education, culture, electricity linkages, and others.
The talks concluded with the signing of a protocol for political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, and another in the agricultural field between the Palestinian and Egyptian ministries of agriculture.
It was agreed that the coming period would witness the activation of many more joint-cooperation frameworks.
During a joint press conference with Madbouly, Prime Minister Shtayyeh stressed the important role of Egypt, which adopted the Palestinian cause and where the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was first created 59 years ago.
He stressed Palestine’s need “for Egypt today more than ever before,” conveying the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas to his Egyptian counterpart President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.
“We see the deep-rooted historical relationship between Palestine and Egypt in the Egyptian position in support of Palestine in all international platforms and forums to end the Israeli occupation, establish our independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, achieve the right of return for refugees,” Shtayyeh added.
He noted that Egypt is keen for the Palestinians to have an independent state and a haven in light of the changes taking place in the region and the international transformations that have their effects and repercussions on the peoples of the Arab nation.
“We are partners with Egypt in the political vision represented by ending the occupation and the two-state solution, and also by preserving Palestinian legitimacy, represented by President Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of our people, which was born in Cairo, and continues to spearhead the struggle against the occupation to end it,” Shtayyeh said.
He called on his Egyptian counterpart and members of his government to visit Palestine to learn on the spot the reality on the ground, expressing appreciation to Egypt, including its leadership, government, and people for all assistance it provides to Palestine and for lifting the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
For his part, Prime Minister Madbouly affirmed Egypt’s full commitment to its historical approach in devoting its efforts and diplomatic moves at all levels as a means to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and push the peace process forward to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Madbouly indicated that the talks that took place today are the first official talks with any government in the world to be hosted by the new headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, stressing that history will immortalize this in its records with appreciation and pride.
Source: WAFA
