Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighborhood, Javier Colomina, recently visited the Arab Republic of Egypt, his first visit to the region in his new capacity. He met with senior officials, including from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to assess relations between NATO and Egypt and exchange views on regional security issues.
According to a statement issued by NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Special Representative Colomina highlighted that “Egypt is a long-standing partner of NATO and a key player in the region and beyond.” During his meetings in Cairo, he explored ways to strengthen the partnership, particularly in areas of particular interest to Egypt.
The Special Representative also outlined his three priorities. “It is of paramount importance that we strengthen dialogue and engagement with our partners in the Southern Neighborhood and other potential interlocutors in the region, which is more important than ever in the current regional context,” Colomina said. “We also want to ensure a coherent, effective and transparent approach to NATO’s efforts in the Southern Neighborhood, and we will work to enhance mutual understanding.” During his visit, Special Representative Colomina also met with His Excellency Mr. Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, and the U.S. Special Envoy for Libya, Ambassador Richard Norland. In addition, he held a meeting with representatives of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding and delivered a keynote speech at the Institute for Diplomatic Studies.