On 11^th March 2018, the Council hosted the French ambassador in Cairo Stéphane Romatet, to discuss the bilateral relations between two countries, as well as the Egyptian–French coordination of mutual concerns, this meeting chaired by chairman of the Council – Amb. Dr. Mounir Zahran, the director of the council Amb. Dr. Ezzat Saad, and a number of ambassadors and experts from the council’s members.

He emphasized the following points particularly:

The French ambassador discussed the development of the Egyptian–French coordination, and added that the two countries had a special relationship on the Middle East, and at global level, Cairo had a special place in the French foreign policy as well.

-He stressed the importance of working together to strengthen the current Egyptian-French cooperation in the political, economic, military, health, education and training fields, especially, there is an expectation that 2030 will be a turning point in the global economy where countries such as India will climb up to be among the first five economies in the world with (the U.s, China, Japan, Germany, the UK, and France). It is necessary to work with developing countries to build frameworks for effective partnership for the benefit of all, and to open an Egyptian-French dialogue to highlight the challenges and how to overcome.

– for the regional issues, especially the Syrian crisis, the Ambassador emphasized it needs to further discussions, and there is a persistent need to offering  more solutions for this crisis, in addition to coordinate between Russia and U.S, work on achieving a balance in the political process for all parties including the United Nations.

With regard to the peace process, the Ambassador said that the Palestinian cause become in the forefront of the rest regional issues; due to Trump’s declaration on moving the U.S embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and the recognition of Jerusalem state as the capital of Israel.

The Ambassador affirmed that the importance of working together to resolve these issues because if we not work to solve it, the current situation will not leads to the stability or achieving the peace in the future, he added that the European countries will not accept the American situation, and the European countries will work to find a fair and comprehensive solution to the satisfaction of both parties. France will recognize Palestinian state in the right time especially that the unilateral recognition of France will not change the current situation, or achieve desired benefit. On the other hand this recognition can be used as a tool to pressure on Israel.

On the African level, he expressed that France’s great concern is on the African issues, and how best can strengthen the cooperation with the African States in all fields to deal with the challenges in the Middle East, especially in the African coast and the Horn of Africa, as well as the cooperation between the two countries in establishing a common vision to contribute to the stability, Security, as well as the Economic and anti-corruption issues. Although Africa has a great challenges but it has a promising opportunities for the future in all areas, especially for infrastructure and others sectors.

For Europe, the mechanism which the president Macron follow will contribute to dealing with the challenge the European Nations are facing, and achieving the stability in the continent, in addition to promote France’s place in the world, and correcting the fake news about the France’s situation towards many crisis, indeed the president Macron expressed the new generation’s thoughts who has a new political visions, as well as he see Egypt as the most important elements of stability in the region, calling Egypt to work on the rehabilitation of young Egyptians to get leadership positions to pump new blood into the Egyptian government.

He concluded his speech by stressing on Egypt’s strength point in Egyptian youth, and the real challenge facing Egypt is the rapid population growth, which requires a strategic vision, especially as it devours any indicators of development.

He also called for the establishment strategic partnership frameworks between the Council and similar French Think Tanks as well as signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation between the Council and these Think Tanks, the ambassador’s proposal was welcomed by the audience.