Cyprus News Agency

The 7th session of the Qatar-Egypt Joint Higher Committee was held in Egypt's El Alamein under the chairmanship of Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty.

At a joint press conference following the meeting, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said relations between Qatar and Egypt are based on deep-rooted, fraternal and solid ties, adding that the two countries would continue to elevate relations to new levels of cooperation in line with the expectations of their leaderships and peoples.

Sheikh Mohammed announced that a total of four agreements had been reached within the framework of the Joint Higher Committee meeting in the areas of customs cooperation, regulatory work, development and health.

The agreements included a grant agreement for the establishment of the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani Hospital in Sohag, Egypt. The Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed hope that the hospital would create a qualitative leap in the region's health sector.

The meeting also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in auditing between the State Audit Bureau of Qatar and the Central Auditing Organization of the Arab Republic of Egypt, a cooperation memorandum between the Qatar Fund for Development and the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, and a grant agreement between the Qatar Fund for Development and Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population for the establishment of the hospital in Sohag. A draft agreement on mutual administrative assistance for the implementation of customs law and the prevention, investigation and combating of customs violations was also among the documents signed.

Sheikh Mohammed said the 7th session of the Joint Higher Committee discussed strengthening cooperation in economic and trade relations between the two countries, as well as in areas such as diplomacy, health, agriculture and food security.

Sheikh Mohammed said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi supported joint efforts to find alternatives and solutions, particularly regarding transport routes and supply chains, adding that important joint projects between Qatar and Egypt were also assessed.

Sheikh Mohammed said that during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, they discussed joint projects concerning the two countries and that he was pleased with the launch of the first phase of the “Alam Al Roum” project on the North Coast. Expressing hope that the project would contribute to Qatari Diar's projects and Qatari investments in Egypt, Sheikh Mohammed said they would continue to evaluate new investment opportunities, particularly in the industrial and pharmaceutical sectors.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the meeting took place at a time when political and economic relations between the two countries were being elevated to a new level under the direct guidance of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Abdelatty said the meeting represented an important opportunity within the framework of the daily communication and consultation mechanism between the two countries. He said they agreed to take concrete steps to double the volume of trade and commercial exchange between the two countries.

Abdelatty said agreement was also reached on expanding partnerships between the business communities of the two countries and that the third Egypt-Qatar Investment Forum was expected to be held. The establishment of a joint council bringing together businesspeople from both countries was also discussed.

Abdelatty expressed satisfaction with the launch of the first phase of the “Alam Al Roum” project on the North Coast, as well as the implementation of other projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

The talks also addressed developments in the energy sector. It was noted that significant progress had been made in conventional and renewable energy sectors following the memorandum of understanding on energy signed between the two countries in January.

Abdelatty said strengthening logistics corridors related to energy transportation and storage is important for dealing with potential future challenges in the maritime sector.

It was stated that the two countries share a common position on protecting freedom of navigation at sea and complying with the rules of international law. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for full compliance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea guaranteeing freedom of navigation.

One of the key items on the meeting's agenda was developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed said the region had entered a critical stage after Palestinian groups announced that they had accepted the peace plan and were ready to work on arrangements related to the collection of weapons.

Sheikh Mohammed said the Israeli side was now at the point of making a choice. Emphasizing that Qatar had made intensive efforts together with Egypt and Türkiye to reach this stage, he expressed hope that Israel would respond positively by implementing obligations it had previously failed to fulfill.

However, Sheikh Mohammed argued that Israel continued attacks targeting civilians and expanding settlement activities, adding that attacks against Lebanon and Syria were also continuing. He said Israel's actions were one of the major sources of instability in the region and that regional initiatives for peace and stability were being rejected.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty said there was full coordination among Qatar, Türkiye and Egypt regarding Gaza.

Abdelatty said this coordination and the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the three countries had helped persuade Palestinian groups to respond to demands concerning restrictions on armament and the collection of weapons, noting that numerous meetings held by Cairo with the participation of Qatar and Türkiye had also been influential in the process.

Abdelatty emphasized that the focus should now be on implementing the roadmap. He said Israel had the option of fulfilling the obligations expected of it under U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan.

These obligations were said to include, in the first phase, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and the early recovery and rehabilitation of infrastructure and hospitals; and in the second phase, restricting weapons, Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the cessation of attacks.

Abdelatty also said that the Gaza National Administration Committee carrying out its temporary duties inside the Strip, the deployment of Palestinian police personnel and an international stabilization force to monitor the ceasefire, and the Palestinian people exercising their right to self-determination by establishing an independent state were all parts of the roadmap.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister said the envisaged Palestinian state should be established in accordance with international resolutions along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said the region had been going through extremely difficult conditions, particularly since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war. He said the conflict had negatively affected not only the Gulf region but the entire region.

Sheikh Mohammed said he had also discussed with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty Qatar's diplomatic efforts on the matter within the framework of joint mediation with Pakistan.

The Qatari side emphasized the importance of preserving freedom, security and safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. Calling for a return to pre-war navigation conditions, it was stated that international maritime transport should not be held hostage by any party or used as a tool of political blackmail.

Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar would continue its efforts to support diplomatic solutions together with its brothers in the Gulf countries, Egypt and other countries in the region. He said he hoped the parties would reach a solution in a short period and return to a basis of consensus and diplomacy rather than escalation or blackmail rhetoric.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty stressed that the security of Qatar and other Gulf countries is an integral part of Egypt's national security and collective Arab national security.

Abdelatty said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had reaffirmed the same approach during his meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed earlier that day.

Abdelatty said Egypt stood in full solidarity with Qatar and the Gulf countries against any attacks targeting them and explicitly condemned Iran's attacks against Qatar and Gulf countries. Describing the attacks as a clear violation of the sovereignty of the countries concerned and a breach of international law, Abdelatty said there was no justification or excuse for them.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister also said close coordination between Cairo and Doha was important for reaching a final and sustainable agreement with Iran that would end the war and military tensions, address Gulf countries' security concerns and contribute to regional stability.

Other crises in the region were also addressed during the joint meetings. The Qatari and Egyptian sides particularly assessed developments regarding the crisis in Sudan and the political settlement process in Libya.

The parties reiterated their support for preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, Libya and other Arab countries.

Qatar and Egypt also highlighted the importance of the international community fulfilling its responsibilities toward Sudan's neighboring countries in the context of the Sudan crisis.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of continuous coordination and consultation between Qatar and Egypt.

The parties agreed to develop cooperation between the two countries in various fields and continue diplomatic coordination on regional crises.

The 8th session of the Joint Higher Committee is expected to be held in Doha, with the Qatari side saying it looked forward to the next meeting with great anticipation.