CAIRO: The 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee at the level of the foreign ministers of the two countries was held in Cairo, on Tuesday.
The Omani side was headed by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, while the Egyptian side was headed by Dr Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Speaking at the opening session, Sayyid Badr expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to Egypt for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, emphasizing strong relations between Oman and Egypt. He said, “This session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee represents a new and blessed addition to the positive cooperation between us and a contribution to consolidating our bonds. Today, we enjoy the fruits of these relations for the good and benefit of our two brotherly peoples.”
In his speech, Sayyid Badr called for activating the role of the Omani-Egyptian Business Council and the private sector, and for focusing attention on emerging projects, digitization, and innovation, stressing that “this will enhance the sustainability of the economy and keep pace with global changes.”
Regarding the regional issues, the Foreign Minister affirmed the Sultanate of Oman’s full support for Egypt’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing its categorical rejection of plans to displace the Palestinian people and its full support for the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. He also affirmed the Sultanate of Oman’s firm stance in supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Sayyid Badr said that the Arab national security is indivisible, affirming the Sultanate of Oman’s support for Egypt’s rights to the waters of the Nile River, based on the rules of international law and the principle of fair and equitable use, in a manner that enhances opportunities for cooperation based on understanding and peaceful solutions.
Sayyid Badr affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman is committed to permanently contributing to establishing stability and protecting the peoples of the region from all that would hamper their progress towards development. He underscored the importance of resuming efforts aimed at reaching a just and lasting agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, based on the rules of international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and avoiding imposing solutions by force, which only brings destruction and destabilizes peoples. He emphasized that dialogue and negotiation remain the only way to resolve disputes and contain risks.
The session witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding and executive programmes in the areas of investment, labour, training, media, food safety, endowments, mineral wealth and human capital development. The minutes of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee were also signed.
At the end of the session both sides affirmed the importance to continue coordination and consultation in various fields, strengthen the Omani-Egyptian partnership to benefit both countries and their peoples and to contribute to consolidating security, stability, and development in the region. — ONA
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