Egypt appoints permanent NATO envoy

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi appointed on Thursday Egyptian Ambassador to Belgium Ehab Fawzy as the head of an Egyptian permanent mission to NATO, Egyptian media reported.

This appointment came after a week of discussions between Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Hijazi and the head of NATO’s Military Committee Peter Baffle in Cairo.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said:

Egypt maintains historical relationships with NATO and there have been common interests that guarantees the drawing of policies which do not downplay the interests of Egypt or those of the region in light of the dangers of terrorism.

He added: “Egypt will benefit from NATO’s facilities. The mutual relations will evolve after the establishment of an official Egyptian mission. This is a channel to propose the Egyptian vision regarding many issues.”

In the wake of earlier discussions, NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg said: “I welcome very much that Egypt is establishing a mission to NATO and will appoint an ambassador to NATO,” adding that the move “will strengthen the cooperation, the partnership between NATO and Egypt.”

He acknowledged a recent meeting with Shukri, saying, “I recently met with the Egyptian foreign minister. We had a good and constructive meeting.”

Stoltenberg reiterated that Egypt had maintained good relations with his organisation. “Of course, Egypt being so close, a key nation, we, I, expressed from the NATO side that we are ready to help build structures, defence institutions in Libya.”