FM lauds distinguished relations with Sierra Leone

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty lauded distinguished relations between Egypt and Sierra Leone, as the two countries mark the 63rd anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties and share identical views on several issues of common concern. Abdelatty made the remarks during his meeting on Friday with Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba, on the sidelines of the 6th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the Af­rican Union (AU) in Ghana's capital, Accra, said Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid. The foreign minister said Egypt looks forward to fostering ties with Sierra Leone in various fields of common interest, notably health, tourism, mining, agriculture and food security. Abdelatty stated Egypt aims to boost trade exchange with Sierra Leone and increase foreign direct investments in the African country. The top Egyptian diplomat highlighted the role played by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), the Cairo Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping in Africa (CCCPA) and the Institute for Diplomatic Studies in building the capacities of Sierra Leonean cadres in different areas. Abdelatty voiced Egypt's interest in activating protocols and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed with the Sierra Leonean side. The foreign minister also expressed Egypt's appreciation of Sierra Leone's coordinator role within the African Union's Committee of Ten, which is concerned with reforming and expanding the UN Security Council. Abdelatty stressed the importance of continuing coordination and consultation between the two countries in light of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The foreign minister said Egypt highly values Sierra Leone's regional part in preserving peace and security in West Africa and combating terrorism, through the mechanisms of the African Union and its membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Source: State Information Service Egypt