Shoukry embarks on European tour including Belgium, France

CAIRO - 24 July 2017: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry left here on Monday for Paris embarking on a European tour that will take him to Belgium and France with the aim of enhancing the Egyptian-European partnership and the Egyptian-French relations in all fields.

In Brussels, Shoukry will chair Egypt's delegation to the EU-Egypt Association Council that will convene on Tuesday for the first time since April 2010. The European side will be chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

The EU-Egypt Association Council meeting aims at discussing means of buttressing the Egyptian-European partnership based on the document of the EU-Egypt partnership priorities for 2017-2020 that has recently been approved.

In Paris, the Egyptian top diplomat will meet with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, Head of the French National Assembly ‎François de Rugy‎ and Head of the Foreign Relations, Defense and Armed Forces Committee Christian Cambon.

Talks are expected to cover means of promoting Egyptian-French relations especially in the economic, military and cultural fields as well as addressing regional issues of common interest.

Shoukry is also scheduled to meet with a number of permanent delegates to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to discuss the file of nominating Egyptian Ambassadress Moshira Khattab to the post of UNESCO director-general. Talks are aimed at supporting the Egyptian nominee at the various Arab, African and international arenas.

The Egyptian foreign minister is also to be interviewed by France 24 and Jeune Afrique magazine as part of the efforts exerted by the Egyptian diplomacy to interact with international media to expound Egypt's vision regarding regional and international crises as well as counter the smear media campaigns that are aimed at tarnishing Egypt's image worldwide.