Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Bader Abdulatty and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot engaged in discussions on Monday focusing on strategies to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. The conversation, conducted through a phone call, covered recent developments in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, as well as bilateral cooperation between their countries. According to Kuwait News Agency, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson, Ambassador Tamim Khalaf, issued a press statement detailing the exchange. Khalaf stated that the ministers discussed the situation in Lebanon, emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of urgent humanitarian aid. Both ministers highlighted the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 without selectivity by all involved parties. The discussion also touched on the ongoing presidential vacancy in Lebanon, with both Abdulatty and Barrot stressing the necessity of holding presidential elections. Furthermore, they reviewed eff orts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate humanitarian assistance to those affected. Ambassador Khalaf noted that Minister Abdulatty condemned the Israeli occupation's repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty and its targeting of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He stressed the importance of respecting Lebanon's unity and integrity. Additionally, Abdulatty reiterated Egypt's firm opposition to the Israeli occupation's obstruction of humanitarian aid delivery. The Egyptian Foreign Minister underscored the significance of establishing the State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and called for an end to the continuous aggression by the Israeli occupation.
