Egypt, Turkiye reject any attempt to circumvent or disrupt Gaza agreement

CAIRO, Feb 4 (KUNA) -- The Egyptian and Turkish leaders affirmed on Wednesday their categorical rejection of any attempt to circumvent or obstruct the US peace plan for Gaza.
"We also agreed on the vital need to stop all unilateral practices in the occupied territories, including settlement expansions in the West Bank and violations of the legal and historical status of the holy sites in Jerusalem," Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi said in a joint press conference with the visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their summit in Cairo today.
He added that the summit touched upon the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, following the success of the efforts of Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar, and the United States in reaching the "Sharm El-Sheikh" agreement to cease the war.
"We lauded US President Donald Trump's efforts in this regard and agreed on the importance of implementing the agreement in its various stages, in line with Security Council Resolution 2803, which includes delivering humanitarian aid and preventing renewed escalation," he said.
The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of achieving a two-state solution by establishing a Palestinian State according to the resolutions of international legitimacy and mobilizing international efforts to support early recovery and reconstruction.
President Al-Sisi added that he held constructive discussions with President Erdogan on the positive developments in the path of bilateral cooperation since the first meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara in September 2024 and deliberated on the results of the first meeting of the Joint Planning Group, which was co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries in November 2025.
"We affirmed the necessity to further develop and enhance constructive cooperation between Egypt and Turkiye steadily in the coming phase and directed our institutions to strengthen efforts toward this goal," he indicated.
They also discussed ways to boost trade exchange, which has reached about USD 9 billion, making Egypt Turkiye's top trading partner in Africa, while Turkiye occupies a prominent position among the largest recipients of Egyptian exports.
"We stressed the need to work on raising the volume of trade exchange to USD 15 billion, removing any obstacles to achieving this goal, and strengthening investments and all aspects of economic cooperation," President Al-Sisi pointed out.
"We hope that today's Business Forum, which features broad participation from business leaders and investors from both sides, will contribute to advancing this path. Furthermore, a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed across various sectors." On the conflict in Sudan, President Al-Sisi said they agreed on the necessity of reaching a humanitarian truce, paving the way for a ceasefire and the launch of a comprehensive political process, while preserving the national state institutions to reinforce the restoration of stability and peace.
"I briefed President Erdogan on the diplomatic contacts efforts Egypt is undertaking to maintain the unity and territorial integrity of our brotherly Sudan," he said.
Other important African issues, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel region, were also addressed.
The Egyptian leader said that he and his guest emphasized the imperative to preserve the unity and sovereignty of Somalia, rejecting any attempts to divide it.
They also deliberated the joint efforts to achieve stability in Libya, agreeing on the crucial importance of supporting the UN-led settlement process, alongside the Libyan-Libyan solution, while respecting the role of national institutions.
"I asserted that Egypt looks forward to ending the division in the executive authority and to holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, alongside the necessary withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, in a manner that preserves the country's unity and sovereignty," President Al-Sisi disclosed.
On the developments in Syria, President Al-Sisi confirmed Egypt's full support for the unity and sovereignty of Syria.
"We welcomed the recent agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, which we hope will contribute to maintaining the country's unity and ensuring the rights of its various national components," he said.
Both leaders also discussed the earnest efforts exerted by Egypt and Turkiye to de-escalate regional tensions, advance diplomatic solutions, and avert the specter of war, both regarding the Iranian nuclear file and the region at large.
"Current international challenges were also tackled, especially the economic repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis on developing countries. We emphasized the importance of ensuring international food security and energy security," he said.
The Egyptian leader affirmed that the discussions with President Erdogan reflected a clear convergence of views between Egypt and Turkiye on many regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson, Ambassador Mohamad Al-Shenawy, stated in a press release that the two leaders held a bilateral session prior to co-chairing the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Egypt and Turkiye.
The meeting reviewed the evolution of bilateral relations and explored mechanisms to bolster cooperation across various sectors, with a primary focus on trade and investment. Following the deliberations, the two presidents signed a joint statement concluding the council's second session. Additionally, several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements were inked, covering military affairs, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and social protection, as well as youth, sports, and agricultural technical cooperation, including plant quarantine and veterinary services. (pick up previous) aff.ibi