El-Sisi, Benelux leaders discuss two-state solution, migration, antiquities repatriation

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof and Prime Minister of Belgium Bart De Wever visited Cairo to attend the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday, the Presidency said in a statement.

El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for their participation in the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum. He also pointed out the warm reception he received during his recent visit to Brussels for the first EU-Egypt Summit.

Deepening Collaboration

The president underscored the robust ties between Egypt and the Benelux countries, which are witnessing ongoing progress, emphasizing Egypt’s interest to further boost investments from these countries, particularly in the fields of new and renewable energy, and green hydrogen.

 

Curbing Migration

On migration, the president confirmed the importance of this issue within the framework of cooperation between Egypt, the Benelux countries, and Europe in general.

El-Sisi noted that Egypt hosts around 9.5 million foreign nationals without having refugee camps, and reiterated that addressing illegal migration necessitates tackling its root causes by supporting efforts to resolve crises and restore stability in the migrant-exporting countries.

Gaza War, Two-State Solution

The president stressed the crucial importance of the full implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

El-Sisi highlighted the vital need to increase humanitarian aid to the Strip, to take all necessary measures to consolidate the ceasefire, and to draft the upcoming UN Security Council resolution in a manner that clearly defines the obligations of all parties.

In addition, he affirmed the necessity of including relevant elements that ensure the resolution’s effectiveness.

In this regard, El-Sisi and the prime ministers of the three Benelux countries reaffirmed the necessity of implementing the two-state solution as the only path to achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Sudan Crisis

The meeting also discussed developments in Sudan.

The meeting demonstrated an agreement on the need to intensify efforts to end the war and achieve stability, and to enhance coordination between Egypt and the Benelux countries on this issue, according to the statement.

 

Recovering Antiquities

The Benelux prime ministers reiterated Egypt as a key partner of the group, noting that their cooperation is covering numerous vital sectors.

They expressed their countries' interest to collaborate with Egypt in the field of recovering stolen Egyptian antiquities.

Consolidating Regional Peace

They also commended Egypt’s pivotal role in the Middle East as a cornerstone for regional stability.

The three prime ministers thanked El-Sisi for his wise leadership, which has contributed to consolidating stability in Egypt. They emphasized that stability in the Middle East cannot be achieved without Egypt.

Water File

The meeting also underscored the importance of the water issue as an integral part of Egypt’s national security and agreed to intensify cooperation between Egypt and the Benelux countries, particularly The Netherlands, in this vital area.