Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed on Tuesday Cairo’s keenness to support all efforts aimed at breaking the current stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
“Resuming the peace process would positively impact the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and help it overcome several challenges,” according to the FM.
Shoukry stressed Egypt's continued support to UNRWA given its key role in offering basic services to Palestinian refugees, said Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The role played by the UNRWA helps promote efforts to achieve security and stability in the region, Shoukry said during a meeting with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in Cairo on Tuesday.
Shoukry underlined Egypt's continued efforts to encourage donor countries to secure needed financial support for the UNRWA, noting that this goes in line with Egypt's efforts to support the Palestinians and ease their suffering.
He lauded the efforts exerted by the agency to implement several reforms to address the impact of shrinking finances, in addition to searching for alternative sources.
Furthermore, the FM commended UNRWA for proceeding with offering its services despite the challenges it is facing, especially the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis.
For his part, Lazzarini stressed continued coordination and consultation with Egypt, highlighting its important role in mobilizing international support at this stage.
As Egypt is set to assume the presidency of the Arab League Council at the foreign ministers level, Lazzarini said he is looking forward to holding dialogue within the framework of the Arab League during the coming period on means of supporting UNRWA.
