Cairo: EgyPulse – News Desk
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration hosted the inaugural round of bilateral dialogue between Egypt and Japan on international legal issues of mutual concern. The Japanese delegation was led by Mr. Nakamura Kazuhiko, Legal Advisor at the International Legal Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Egyptian side was headed by Ambassador Hatem Abdel Qader, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Legal Affairs and Treaties.
The discussions encompassed a wide range of current political and legal matters. The Egyptian delegation presented its national legal perspective on the ongoing Israeli war in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing Israel’s responsibilities as an occupying power under the provisions of the Four Geneva Conventions on International Humanitarian Law. The Egyptian side also highlighted Israel’s violations of its international legal obligations in this context.
Another key topic of discussion was the legal framework governing international rivers. The Egyptian delegation outlined its position on the obligations and duties of upstream countries, with particular reference to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the implications for regional water security. For his part, Mr. Nakamura addressed Japan’s position on the application of international maritime law and shared insights from key events recently hosted by Japan, including the Tokyo International Law Symposium (TILA) and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held in Yokohama last August.
The two sides also discussed legal issues relating to climate change, including the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, as well as the evolving international legal framework for cyberspace. Additionally, they exchanged views on the promotion of the rule of law at the international level. The dialogue reflected the shared commitment of both countries to enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding on international legal matters, and laid the groundwork for future rounds of discussion.
