CAIRO: Egypt has welcomed the decision of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish the position of a UN special envoy on water, and the announcement that Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will assume the high-ranking post in November.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo said Egypt, in collaboration with Germany, had led an extensive initiative in preparation for the 2023 UN Water Conference.
This initiative, which successfully garnered the support of 151 countries, aimed at establishing the position of UN special envoy on water to support member states, particularly water-scarce countries, to help address the challenge of achieving the sixth Sustainable Development Goal regarding everyone having access to water.
Guterres’ decision to create the position is a culmination of Egypt’s efforts to enhance multilateral action in response to emerging challenges.
Egypt looked forward to enhancing cooperation with the new UN special envoy to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda in addressing water scarcity, the statement added.
The news comes in light of the significant efforts made by Egypt for the rational management of water resources and the promotion of transboundary cooperation, in accordance with international law.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty received a phone call on Friday from the UN secretary-general. The call addressed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the dangerous escalation of conflict in the West Bank.
Tamim Khallaf, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the call emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and facilitating the work of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s position, which focuses on halting aggression and promptly delivering humanitarian aid to the region. He said peace, security, and stability in the area could not be achieved without adhering to agreed-upon references and establishing a Palestinian state based on June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The UN secretary-general spoke of his appreciation of the roles of Egypt, Qatar, and the US in mediation efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement and exchanging hostages and detainees. He expressed hope in achieving agreement as soon as possible.
