The UN Secretary-General held talks in Cairo where he discussed recent developments in the Middle East, particularly in Libya, Syria, and Yemen. Antonio Guterres highly appreciated the perspectives of UN-Egyptian cooperation and praised Egypt’s s role in sparing the Gaza Strip from escalation.
An official visit of the UN secretary to Egypt started on Wednesday with the talks between Mr Gutteres and the North African top officials. They have been discussing various regional issues and ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region. According to UNSG, Egypt becomes the fundamental partner for the UN in relation to stability and peace, saying such cooperation is an essential aspect of the UN’s work.
Mr Guterres appreciated Egypt’s efforts to settle the situation in Libya, adding that his talks with Sisi also covered the situation in Syria and means of reaching a settlement that is based on UN Security Council resolution 2254.
Being discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the UN chief praised Cairo’s role in sparing the Gaza Strip from escalation, organizing the effective and timely delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. Guterres added that Egypt and the UN are working to implement the two-state solution with Jerusalem as a capital for both states.
During his two-day visit, Antonio Guterres also met with Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. The UN chief also visited Giza’s Grand Egyptian Museum.
Egypt and the UN: counter-terrorism measures
As for efforts to fight terrorism, the UN Secretary-General noted that a summit will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss combating terrorism in Africa. He said that no state can settle the problem of terrorism on its own and that cooperation between Egypt and the UN on this score is based on three points; peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.
On recent Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Guterres said that the UN insists that any resolution must guarantee Syria’s sovereignty over its territory, including the occupied Golan.
After Cairo, the UN chief headed to Libya to discuss the latest developments of the Libyan political crisis.
