Regional crises and the status of the Egyptian transition with all its challenges were the main topics Minister Emma Bonino discussed in a meeting in Rome today with her Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmy.
In an exchange of views on regional questions, the two ministers confronted the Syrian crisis, the Middle East peace process and the situation in Libya. Minister Bonino encouraged her colleague’s participation in the Rome conference on Libya, expressing the hope that progress would be made within the month of March in the development of a dialogue inclusive of the Zidan government, the other political forces and the various militias.
With regard to Syria, Minister Fahmy stressed the large number — approximately 300,000 — of Syrian refugees currently in Egypt. He then expressed Egypt’s willingness to participate in common initiatives aimed at opening up humanitarian corridors across the country as soon as possible, not least in view of Syrian opposition leader Jarba’s upcoming visit to Egypt. Regarding the Middle East peace process, the two ministers fully agreed on the importance of supporting U.S. Secretary of State Kerry’s mediation as an unparalleled opportunity for achieving an equitable, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Minister Fahmy then described his country’s internal situation and the various steps that had been taken since the approval of the new Constitution, ahead of the spring presidential elections and those for the parliament in the summer. Minister Bonino voiced Italian and European concerns about an approach overly focused on security that tended to exclude opposition groups from the political process. She also encouraged the Egyptian authorities to concentrate on the economic and financial reforms that the Egyptian people need, pledging a contribution to growth from Italy in the form of development cooperation projects.
Minister Fahmy’s visit precedes a mission by Secretary General Michele Valensise to Cairo by slightly less than two weeks, as well as a European Foreign Affairs Council meeting of 10 February, whose focus is to be on Egypt.