President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi pledged Egypt's full support for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification during a Sunday meeting with its Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad. Al-Sisi expressed confidence in her expertise to tackle global environmental challenges and advance sustainable development goals. Fouad praised Egypt's pivotal role in land reclamation projects despite water scarcity challenges.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and UN Under-Secretary-General, in Cairo on Sunday. According to a presidential statement, Al-Sisi affirmed Egypt's commitment to providing all necessary support for the convention's success, describing it as the "binding legal framework" for addressing desertification and drought impacts through multilateral partnerships.
Fouad commended Egypt's "pivotal role" and its extensive land reclamation projects, noting these achievements occurred despite significant water scarcity challenges. She also praised Cairo's dedication to the convention, including the timely submission of national reports and the establishment of voluntary targets for land rehabilitation.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty attended the meeting, where discussions centered on strengthening ties between Egypt and the UNCCD secretariat, expanding cooperation, and developing support mechanisms for member states, particularly in Africa and the Arab region. Presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that the talks aimed to enhance the convention's effectiveness in aiding member states' efforts to achieve sustainable development goals amid rising environmental pressures.