Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty confirmed today (Thursday) that water is the primary and existential issue for more than 110 million Egyptians.
Abdel Ati stressed, during a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Taiani, at the conclusion of their discussions in Cairo today, the importance of full compliance with the rules of international law, most notably the principle of not causing harm, the principle of rejecting any unilateral measures, and relying on friends to support Egyptian water security, according to the German News Agency.
Abdel Ati condemned the continued Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon, pointing to an Egyptian-Italian agreement to support Lebanese state institutions.
He stressed the importance of returning to the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, noting that he discussed with his Italian counterpart the latest developments in the regional situation, especially the Palestinian issue.
Abdel Ati expressed his country's appreciation for Italy's role in providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, pointing out that there is an Egyptian-Italian consensus regarding the Libyan file.
He added that the holding of the first session of the Egyptian-Italian Joint Committee represents a very important point in the process of relations between the two countries, as it is an important institutional mechanism for organizing and deepening relations, following up on what is agreed upon, and transforming the joint political will into practical and tangible projects and programmes.
He stressed that Egypt views Italy as an important and reliable partner in the Mediterranean region, stressing that Egypt is proud of the presence of more than 1,300 Italian companies operating in Egypt in many fields and sectors.
In turn, the Italian Foreign Minister thanked Egypt for its efforts in confronting the phenomenon of illegal immigration, indicating its readiness to receive skilled Egyptian workers in Italy.
He expressed his country's rejection of the violence of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, who are supported by Netanyahu, stressing the importance of the two-state solution for the stability of the region.
He stressed support for all Egyptian initiatives to restore calm to the Middle East region, stressing that the water issue is very important to Egypt.
The Egyptian-Italian committee was held for the first time in a decade, completely overcoming the crisis of the murder of researcher Giulio Regeni in Cairo in 2016, in a move that would open new paths of cooperation in a number of fields and strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, during his meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taiani on Thursday, pointed to the remarkable development witnessed by bilateral relations in various fields, inviting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to visit Egypt to continue coordination and consultation on issues of common interest, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.
Sisi stressed the importance of implementing the outcomes of the joint Egyptian-Italian committee in order to enhance bilateral cooperation in the trade and investment fields, as well as developing existing cooperation in the fields of energy, education, maritime transport, agriculture and tourism.
For his part, Tayani stressed his country's keenness to deepen cooperation with Egypt and raise it to broader horizons, in a way that achieves common interests, while continuing coordination to confront the phenomenon of irregular migration.
Egypt's ambassador to Italy and its permanent representative to the United Nations organizations in Rome, Bassam Rady, said in press statements that the joint supreme committee between Egypt and Italy is being held for the first time in ten years, "a culmination of the great efforts made by both parties over the past years" within the framework of strengthening joint bilateral cooperation in all fields, leading to the convening of the supreme committee that brings together a number of ministers and senior officials from both sides.
Rady explained that the sessions of the joint “Business Forum” will be launched between Egypt and Italy, which includes a group of businessmen from both sides, Italian trade institutions, companies, trade associations, and investment institutions. With the aim of maximizing realistic and tangible opportunities for developing economic, commercial and industrial relations between the two countries and moving them to broader horizons, according to what was reported by Egyptian media.
Major business partner
Italy is Egypt's main trading partner among the European Union countries, and the fourth largest trading partner in the world.
In a press conference held upon his arrival in Cairo, Thursday, Taiani stressed his country’s desire to strengthen relations with Egypt, noting that Italian exports to Egypt increased by 17 percent during the past six months, “which makes it an important part of our strategy,” according to what was reported by the Italian “Aki” agency.
Egypt's former ambassador to the European Union, Raouf Saad, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about the need for the two countries to cooperate in many economic fields, including energy, and in the issue of irregular migration. Pointing out that the Egyptian President’s reception of the Italian Foreign Minister, and the convening of the Egyptian-Italian committee for the first time in ten years, reflect the desire to “support the path of a true partnership” in the coming period.
He added that the economic and trade relations between the two countries witnessed “tangible strengthening in times of crises,” pointing to the establishment of the “RORO” maritime transport line linking Italian ports with the port of Damietta to transport European Union exports via Safaga to the Gulf states.
He stressed that the “RORO” line represents a strategic corridor that guarantees the economic and trade balance between the two countries, in addition to Italy’s participation in investment projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, “which demonstrates the existence of a solid foundation for relations, and a political appreciation of the inability of Egypt to be absent from events in the region.”
Navigation and migration
According to the Egyptian presidency statement, during the meeting between Sisi and Tayani, the need to ensure freedom of navigation in international sea lanes and the strategic importance of the Red Sea for Egyptian national security was stressed, as the Egyptian President stressed that ensuring the security of the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of the countries bordering it, while rejecting any attempts to destabilize it or push it towards militarization and internationalization.
Tayani said at the press conference: “We are interested in protecting maritime traffic through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea as well, as 40 percent of Italian maritime traffic passes through them, in light of the difficult international circumstances the region is witnessing.”
Regarding the immigration file, he revealed the signing of an agreement with the Egyptian Foreign Minister to ensure that cooperation between Egypt and Italy “contributes to reducing the numbers of irregular immigrants and increasing the numbers of regular immigrants who can be employed in our companies after receiving appropriate training.”
In this regard, former Egyptian Ambassador to the European Union, Raouf Saad, said: “Europe respects Egyptian efforts in dealing with the migration issue, considering Egypt a transit zone and not a source of it, and supports development efforts in areas vulnerable to migration as a development solution that supports the security solution.”
Regarding energy, he pointed out that the Middle East region is gaining unique importance because it contains five vital waterways, including the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Suez Canal, “which makes political stability a key strategy for achieving comprehensive stability, and thus all of this contributes to strengthening the partnership.”
Clashes renewed at dawn on Thursday between Somali forces and rebel militias on the outskirts of the city of Baidoa, located in southwestern Somalia, amid reports of heavy gunfire and civilians fleeing their homes, according to the Associated Press.
The Somali Ministry of Defense said that government forces responded to an attack launched by fighters loyal to the former president of southwestern Somalia, Abdulaziz Hassan Mohamed Leftagarin, in addition to the armed Al-Shabaab movement linked to Al-Qaeda.
These clashes are the latest escalation in the political and security conflict between the Somali federal government and the Fatagarin over control of southwestern Somalia.
Federal forces took control of the city of Baidoa on March 30, after which Fatagarin, who had been ruling the state since 2018, resigned.
Dr. Abdul Kafi Omar Mahmoud, head of the emergency department at Bay Regional Hospital in Baidoa, told the Associated Press that his staff received 71 wounded, including 15 women, and the body of one civilian.
The city of Baidoa, which is about 245 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, is a major humanitarian center and hosts more than half a million people displaced by conflict and drought.
It is noteworthy that last month's clashes in Baidoa and its surrounding areas resulted in the killing of at least four civilians and the injury of 98 others.
