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Egypt and France agreed on Saturday on the need to “intensify efforts to limit the escalation in the region.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received in Cairo French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne for talks on regional developments.
He said: “The continuation of the war on Gaza is dragging the region to an empty and dangerous circle of instability.”
He stressed the need for all sides to intensify efforts to seize the opportunity during the ongoing Gaza truce negotiations to reach an agreement that would end the bloodshed and avert an escalation in the region.
Sisi also underscored “the international community’s responsibility in exerting pressure to reach de-escalation and tackle the root of this conflict by establishing an independent Palestinian state and implementing the two-state solution.”
For his part, Sejourne expressed France’s full support for ceasefire efforts, saying Paris was actively seeking to end the current regional tensions.
He briefed Sisi on the outcomes of his tour of the region, highlighting Egypt’s “vital role in the mediation, along with Qatar and the United States, to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and hostage exchange.”
He also held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty on de-escalation efforts.
During a joint press conference, Abdelatty said they discussed preparations for Cairo to host the next round of ceasefire negotiations.
“Egypt is playing a major role in ending the war on Gaza and implementing the two-state solution,” he added.
The Egyptian and French officials also discussed the crises in Sudan, Libya and Lebanon, as well as the situation in the Horn of Africa.
