Egypt’s FM Choukri dispels hovering doubts over his Morocco visit in phone-call to Lamamra

Egypt moved quickly to clarify its position on the ins and outs of the recent visit paid by its Foreign Minister, Sameh Choukri, to the Kingdom of Morocco, which has been hastily construed by some circles in the three countries, as a blow dealt to the rapprochement between Algeria and Egypt in recent months.

According to Egyptian foreign ministry sources, Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Choukri, has phoned his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, for consultations on a number of topical regional issues of mutual concern including Libya, Syria and Palestine in addition to Western Sahara and ways to strengthen the strategic ties binding Algeria and Egypt as part of the enhancement of Arab solidarity and joint Arab action.

Moreover, Algeria and Egypt brought out the need to carry through the process of Western Sahara issue settlement in consistence with the UN Assembly General and the Security Council resolutions, said Wednesday a press release of the foreign Ministry.

During the conversation, the two ministers discussed several regional and international issues interesting the two countries, notably the progress of the Libyan issue regarding the neighboring countries’ efforts and the Geneva negotiations process, the developments of the Palestinian cause and the Syrian crisis as well as the situations in Yemen and Iraq, the source said.

The Algerian and Egyptian foreign ministers also exchanged views on the African questions included in the agenda of the executive council of the African Union (AU), in preparation for the African Summit slated for next week in Addis (Ethiopia).