CAIRO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi, in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss regional issues and called for political settlements in Yemen and Sudan, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.
On Yemen, the ministers reaffirmed support for dialogue in Riyadh between Yemeni factions to reach a consensual political settlement on the southern Yemen issue. They said the talks aim for a "comprehensive and sustainable political settlement" that preserves Yemen's sovereignty, unity, and stability while meeting the aspirations of its people.
The meeting comes days after Saudi Arabia announced plans to host a conference bringing together all southern Yemeni factions, following a request from Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council. The initiative follows renewed clashes between government forces and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Hadramout province, with the STC proposing a transitional administration for southern areas and a possible independence referendum.
Regarding Sudan, where fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has persisted since April 2023, the ministers stressed the need to support national institutions, halt hostilities, protect civilians, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need through the UN and local organizations. They emphasized efforts toward "a consensual political solution" that safeguards Sudanese rights, preserves sovereignty, and fosters peaceful coexistence with neighboring states.
The ministers also discussed the Palestinian issue, reaffirming Egypt and Oman's support for Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders. They called for an end to the blockade on Gaza and restrictions across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. ■
