Cairo: The visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday expressed concern over the increasing hostile activities in the West Bank and Gaza. Lavrov, speaking at a news conference alongside the Egyptian Foreign and Immigration Minister Dr. Badr Abdel Aatty after their talks, highlighted the joint call by Russia and Egypt for a cease-fire, the sustainability of the accord, and the pursuit of diplomatic efforts to resume negotiations. These efforts are seen as a prelude to the two-state solution and the establishment of the state of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Lavrov emphasized the necessity of maintaining Syrian state sovereignty over its territories and ensuring civil rights for all segments of the Syrian population. He also noted that Russia and Egypt have agreed on a joint stance to initiate a political process in Sudan that includes all parties.
In relation to Libya, Lavrov advocated for a comprehensive political process aimed at holding parliamentary and presidential elections simultaneously. Addressing the situation in Ukraine, he expressed optimism about Russian-American diplomatic efforts potentially leading to substantial results that could facilitate a sustainable settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Lavrov also praised Egypt's role in mediating between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning Iranian nuclear assets, urging the IAEA to adhere to the principle of non-alignment. On bilateral relations with Egypt, Lavrov noted recent growth in economic, trade, and investment sectors.
Regarding the project of building a nuclear-powered reactor in Al-Dabaa and the Russian industrial zone in the Suez economic zone, Lavrov remarked that progress has been positive and in accordance with the schedule, with a desire to expedite the process.