Cairo: EgyPulse – News Desk
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty stressed the urgent need to enhance the credibility of the United Nations now more than ever in light of the double-standard policy adopted in addressing international issues. Abdelatty gave the remarks during a meeting with Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the UNGA in New York.
Egypt’s top diplomat congratulated Baerbock on assuming her new role and reiterated Egypt’s commitment to supporting the United Nations and multilateralism. He reaffirmed Egypt’s adherence to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s vision for UN reform, emphasizing the importance of taking into account the interests and national priorities of developing countries.
He called for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council based on the Ezulwini Consensus, to rectify the historical injustice done to the African continent. The discussions also touched on several key UN-related issues, including peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations, multilateral economic matters, development assistance for Global South countries, and implementation of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Abdelatty shared Egypt’s holistic approach to development, which includes ongoing economic reform programs, restructuring the global financial system, mobilizing resources for sustainable development, and enhancing climate change adaptation. He also emphasized Egypt’s integrated approach towards the issue of emigration, underlining the importance of linking it to development in a way that ensures the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees, promotes their integration into host communities, and strengthens international cooperation to manage the burdens faced by host countries, including Egypt, which hosts millions of refugees.
He reiterated Egypt’s condemnation of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, stressing the urgent need for a ceasefire and unhindered access to humanitarian aid. He underscored the necessity of protecting civilians and unequivocally rejected any attempts at forced displacement. He also condemned what he described as systematic Israeli practices of killing and starvation. He reiterated the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to remain on their land and to establish an independent state in line with international legitimacy – an essential step for ensuring regional stability.
He also noted Egypt’s plan to host an international conference on early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza following a ceasefire. The meeting also included discussions on key regional files, including developments in Sudan, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and the Red Sea region, with Egypt reaffirming its commitment to regional stability and diplomatic engagement.
