New alamein: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met on Saturday with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan for bilateral and expanded talks in New Alamein, marking 100 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Turkey.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during their discussions, Abdelatty emphasized the need for a quicker execution of agreements made during the first meeting of the high-level Strategic Cooperation Council in Istanbul in 2024. The goal is to boost bilateral trade to $15 billion and enhance collaboration in the fields of industry, energy, transport, and tourism. He expressed gratitude towards Turkey for supporting Egypt's UNESCO candidate, Khaled El Anany.

The two foreign ministers also tackled regional issues, notably rejecting Israel's plan to occupy Gaza, warning that it could destabilize the region. Abdelatty criticized ongoing Israeli actions that violate international law and reiterated Egypt's call for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem (Al Quds) as its capital. He highlighted Egypt's efforts, in coordination with Qatar and the US, to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and boost humanitarian aid, urging increased international pressure on Israel.

The discussions also covered the situation in Libya, where Abdelatty emphasized the necessity for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, disarming militias, and the removal of foreign forces. Regarding Sudan, he reaffirmed support for Sudanese state institutions and opposed actions that threaten stability in Syria. Additionally, he condemned the Israeli occupation of Syrian land and called for respect for sovereignty, while rejecting foreign interference in Somalia.