Activities of Secretary-General in Egypt, 15-16 February
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Cairo, Egypt from Qatar on Wednesday, 15 February.
The Secretary-General met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi, who then hosted a lunch for the Secretary-General, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shokry Selim.
Following the lunch, the Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister spoke to reporters and said that he has always believed that Egypt, due to its history, its cultural and its geopolitical position, is a central player in this region and an absolutely essential contributor for the solution of the problems of the region.
He also spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian question, asserting that there is no plan B to a two-State solution and that everything must be done to preserve that possibility.
Asked about the situation of Syrian refugees, he said that the countries of the region — including Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt — have not had enough support from the international community in general, and from Europe in particular.
He said that refugee protection is not only the responsibility of neighbouring countries, but of all the international community, and he added that it would be important to substantially increase the number of refugees that are resettled into Europe and other parts of the world in order to show effective solidarity with the countries of first asylum.
The Secretary-General also spoke that day at Cairo University. He said that the youth of Egypt have so much to contribute to their country and region. (See Press Release SG/SM/18439.)
On Thursday morning in Cairo, before heading to Germany, the Secretary-General met with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit. They talked about increased cooperation between the two organizations, as well as pressing regional issues.
The Secretary-General then departed to Germany, where he would take part in a G20 session on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.