Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is set to present Egypt’s vision on efforts being made to settle regional crises in front of the UN’s General Assembly, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has said.
In an interview with MENA agency, Shoukry said that El-Sisi is also going to present current political and economic developments in Egypt in front of the UNGA, which will be held next week in New York.
He said that El-Sisi’s participation in the General Assembly's meetings this year held special importance in the light of Egypt’s membership of the Security Council, pointing out that El-Sisi’s participation in the Security Council Summit would be a first for an Egyptian president.
El-Sisi is set to attend a number of meetings, including the Security Council’s summit on Syria and Libya, held on 21 September, a meeting on migrants and asylum seekers, and an African leaders’ meeting on fighting climate change.
Shoukry stressed Egypt's keenness on Syrian unity, and supporting all exerted efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the Syrian crisis.
He added that Egypt will highlight the necessity of the return of stability in Libya and accomplishing a national consensus through implementing the Skhirat agreement, adding that Egypt supports the National Libyan Army which holds legitimacy.
He stressed Egypt’s backing of the Libyan army's move to restore stability and security in Libya and secure the country's oil wealth.
On Sunday, troops loyal to Libyan general Khalifa Haftar said they had seized two major oil export terminals as the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), backed by the UN, struggles to assert its authority over the oil-rich country.
Shortly following the take-over, the US and several European countries condemned the act by the Libyan general, calling on Haftar’s forces to “withdraw immediately, without preconditions”, according to an official statement.
Shoukry described the statement as “overhasty” and said it didn't take into considerations the domestic conditions in Libya.
Meetings with US presidential candidates
The Egyptian foreign minister also reacted to news related to an expected meeting between Egypt’s El-Sisi and the US presidential candidates.
On Wednesday, Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced she would meet with El-Sisi next week during the General Assembly.
Shoukry said that El-Sisi would hold “important meetings” with leading figures in the US’s Democratic and Republication parties, elaborating that “no decision has been made yet” on meeting with the two candidates.
According to MENA, El-Sisi is expected to hold meetings with several world leaders, as well as being interviewed by a group of American media outlets to shed light on Egyptian efforts to attract investments for projects in Egypt and efforts to maintain unity in countries that face crisis in the Middle East.
