(AFP Photo)
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Fahmy, who traveled to New York City this week, will deliver Egypt’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.
In a statement prior to his departure, the foreign minister added that he would attend meetings with Arab League member states and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Assistance to Palestinians. Fahmy is also scheduled to attend a meeting with the Non-Aligned Movement, members from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a meeting on nuclear disarmament, and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Fahmy added that he would meet with a number of civil society organisations “to clarify what is happening in Egypt” and stress the importance of youth participation in current domestic developments.
The minister said his message would be that his country was “establishing a civilized democratic system established by implementing the roadmap and a constitution that reflects all Egyptians, and working on the country’s stability and security with determination in the face of terrorist acts.”
He added: “Egypt lends importance to regional stability, particularly in the Arab world and Africa.”
Fahmy’s third message, according to his statement, was: “Egypt calls for international democracy, meaning to apply the same standards of democracy to all nations,” adding that Egypt prioritised the Syrian crisis and a peace process in the Middle East, paying special attention to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
The foreign minister advocated “resolving the Syrian crisis within a framework of dialogue,” saying that the division of Syria was the most dangerous thing facing the country. “Egypt supports the Syrian Revolution and the aspirations of the people for a democratic system based on the law and freedoms,” read the statement, condemning the ongoing military conflict and its sectarian aspects. “Maintaining [Syria] is very important for the stability of the situation in Arab countries,” read Fahmy’s statement.
He welcomed Russia’s recent role in the Syrian civil war, as it related to chemical weapons, adding that his recent trip to Russia had been successful on a number of levels.
Fahmy said that relations between Egypt and the United states needed to be “reviewed,” adding that there needed to be a “change in interests” between the two countries and development of a relationship that would be beneficial for both sides.
He also addressed relations with Qatar saying “there is a feeling among Egyptians that Qatar had supported the former regime more than any other country, and now they face a problem in the face of Egyptian public opinion, which must be resolved through actions.”
Foreign ministry spokesman, Badr Abdelatty, said that Fahmy would “explain the principles and goals of the 30 June Revolution” in his address to the UN’s 68th General Assembly.
Last year, ousted President Mohamed Morsi delivered Egypt’s speech to the General Assembly.
