Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has traveled to the United States of America to participate in the ministerial meeting of the international anti-Islamic State group coalition hosted by the United States, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry announced, according to Al-Ahram, a state-owned newspaper.
According to statements by foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, Shoukry is set to attend the meeting held in Washington with the participation of 43 countries for the international coalitions against the Islamic State group(ISIS).
The summit will be attended by several defense ministers from different countries along with the foreign ministers of the anti-IS group alliance participating in military strikes against the group in Syria and Iraq.
In this context, FM Sameh Shoukry will participate in the meeting, as Egypt is a major supporter of the US-led coalition against ISIS group.
Since the military coup in 2013 led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi against Mohamed Morsi the first democratically elected president, the Egyptian armed forces have been fighting insurgencies in Sinai peninsula as Sinai Province- a group affiliated to ISIS, and Agnad Masr. The Islamic insurgencies have been targeting Egyptian security forces in security checkpoints and military camps. Al-Sisi military regime has failed until now from curbing (ISIS) expansion in the peninsula.
Moreover, the official gazette stated that Shoukry is also expected to attend a quadrilateral meeting held by the US that will also be attended by Egypt, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the latest developments in the Libyan crisis.
Western countries believe in Egypt’s strategic partnership to maintain stability and security in Libya after the expansion of ISIS in Sirte.
Libya has fallen into chaos following the 2011 toppling and killing of dictator Muammar al- Gaddhafi and is now torn between a U.N.-backed unity government and rebel Islamist government.
Egypt has repeatedly expressed its faith in the inevitability of a political solution to the Libyan crisis.
The Egyptian minister is also set to attend another ministerial meeting called for by the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini to discuss updates on the Palestinian cause and the efforts being exerted to push the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis forward, reported al-Ahram.
Egypt is expected to participate in the meetings along with other countries as Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the European Union.
Egypt is currently supporting the Paris peace initiative aimed at reviving negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.
According to Abu Zeid-Egypt’s FM spokesperson- said that a bilateral meeting is set to take place between Egypt’s Shoukry and his US counterpart John Kerry, where both sides will discuss all aspects related to their mutual ties, according to the statement.
In this context, Shoukry and Kerry will hold talks about regional issues, including developments on the Palestinian cause and the situation in Libya and Syria.
Last week, Egyptian foreign minister has visited Israel in the first diplomatic visit by an Egyptian official to the Zionist entity since 2007. Shoukry has received a phone call from Kerry where the US official discussed with him the outcomes of his visit and the efforts made to encourage the Palestinians and Israelis to resume the peace process.
During the Israel visit, Shoukry reiterated to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Egypt is a “steadfast and unwavering” supporter of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Egyptian foreign minister stated that Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi supports the two-state solution.
Al-Sisi has called for warm peace with Israel offering that Egypt will with the Palestinian and Israeli leaders to achieve peace, prosperity, and cooperation. He stated that this will only take place if both parties were able to reach a two-state solution.
