Egypt, Saudi Arabia issue joint statement on outcomes of consultation committee

CAIRO – 12 January 2023: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry met Thursday in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal Bin Farhan bilaterally before the fifth meeting of the joint Follow-up and Political Consultation Committee, where the delegations of both countries tackled Egyptian-Saudi ties as well as regional and international issues.

 

The ministry's press statement revealed that the consultations covered the developments of the Palestinian Cause and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The two delegations also conferred over the status quo in Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

The statement showcased that the stances of both sides were in support to stability and peace in region. The two delegations also agreed on mutual backing against challenges, and continuous coordination of stances on current international crises with the aim of fulfilling the interests of both countries as well as those of Arab States.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement noting their rejection to all forms of interference with the internal affairs of Arab countries, whether in the form of sectarian incitement or terrorism.

As for the Palestinian Cause, they stipulated that the fair and comprehensive solution centers on establishing an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, having as capital Eastern Jerusalem.

In another context, Egypt and Saudi Arabia agreed on the necessity that Iran abides by the Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the reinforcement of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the Middle East.

In a related context, the two sides condemned attempts of putting in jeopardy the safety of navigation in the Arab Gulf, Bab El Mandab Strait, and the Red Sea, agreeing on cooperating to combat such practices.

They also expressed support to the United Nations' endeavors to extend the truce in Yemen in order to attain a comprehensive political solution. On another level, they expressed concern about the continuous targeting by the terrorist Houthi militias of international waterways.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia expressed rejection to foreign meddling with Libyan internal affairs, while they welcomed the signing of the framework agreement by the parties involved in the transitional phase in Sudan.

The two countries stipulated their support to Iraq's anti-terrorism efforts as well as the independence and territorial integrity of Syria, stressing the importance of the return of the displaced and refugees to their homeland. They equally expressed support to the political solution in Syria, and political stability in Lebanon, calling on Lebanese political forces to overcome their differences and hold presidential election.

Saudi Arabia expressed solidarity with Egyptian measures aimed at preserving the country's water security, calling on Ethiopia to not take any unilateral measures pertaining to the filling and operation of the dam.

With regard to the economic repercussions of the global geopolitical crisis, the two sides agreed on accelerating the pace of economic cooperation bilaterally and on the Arab level. That is in addition to bolstering cooperation with the African continent.