Cairo - Egypt Today
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will head Monday to the Belgian capital Brussels to lead Egypt’s delegation to the EU-Egypt Association Council meeting, the first since April 2010.
EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini will chair the European side in the meeting, Spokesman for Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said in statements on Sunday.
The meeting is expected to tackle all aspects of relations between the EU and Egypt, with the aim of deepening the EU-Egyptian partnership based on the document of new partnership priorities that sets out all fields of cooperation between Egypt and the European bloc during the upcoming three years, Abu Zeid added.
Afterwards, the Egyptian top-diplomat will pay a visit to Paris to discuss ways of boosting the Egyptian-French ties, especially in light of the keenness of the two countries' leadership to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Abu Zeid noted.
While in Paris, Shoukry is due to meet with a number of French officials, notably French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the French National Assembly François de Rugy and -Chairman of the French Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Christian Cambon to probe means of cementing bilateral relations in different domains, especially the economic, military and cultural ones.
Also, Shoukry will hold talks with Secretary General of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurría, Abu Zeid stressed.
Furthermore, he will meet with a host of permanent representatives at the UNESCO in the presence of Egypt's candidate for the post of UNESCO Director General Moshira Khattab to drum up support for the Egyptian nominee, Abu Zeid confirmed.
During his stay, Shoukry will conduct interviews with the French Weekly Magazine Jeune Afrique, France 24 English and France 24 Arabic to explain Egypt’s vision and stances on regional and international issues and confront anti-Egypt propaganda campaigns.
Source: Mena