Shoukry delivers message from Sisi to Estonian president

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry delivered on Tuesday a message from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid on boosting bilateral ties and coordinating stances in international meetings.

Shoukry handed over the message during his meeting with Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in statements. 

Mikser, during the meeting, expressed his appreciation of the Egyptian leadership and people, commending Egypt's pivotal role in shoring up peace and stability in the Middle East and Africa and fighting terrorism, the spokesman added. 

Shoukry's visit aims at consolidating ties with Estonia in light of its influential role in the European Union, the spokesman said.

This is the first time for an Egyptian minister to visit the two Baltic States of Estonia and Lithuania, noted the spokesman.

During his visit, Shoukry had meetings with the Estonian foreign minister and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson on boosting bilateral ties in light of Estonia's presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time.

The meetings took up a host of regional and international issues of mutual interest, topped by immigration, international security and fighting terrorism, the spokesman added. 

On Monday, Shoukry embarked on a European tour that has already taken him to Russia and is scheduled to take him to Lithuania, Ahmed Abu Zeid added. 

Earlier, the spokesman said Shoukry will also hold a series of meetings with Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas  

The Egyptian foreign minister said that his talks with the Estonian side took up the nomination of Ambassador Moushira Khattab for the post of UNESCO Director General, the spokesman said. The vote will take place during the UNESCO Board's 202nd session in October 2017

Egypt is looking forward to garnering Estonia's support for Khattab's nomination in light of Estonia's membership in the UNESCO Executive Board, Abu Zeid added. 

Regarding relations between the two countries, Shoukry stressed the importance of consolidating ties with Estonia in the economic and investment fields, the spokesman said.

He also stressed the importance of benefiting from Estonia's expertise in the energy, petroleum, IT and communications and e-services, the spokesman added. 

Shoukry also welcomed cooperation between the Egyptian and Estonian diplomatic studies institutes, he said. 

The two sides also mulled the establishment of a consultation mechanism between Egypt and the three Baltic countries; Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, the spokesman said.

Source: MENA