Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration welcomed Mr. Abdallah Al-Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude for the UN official’s participation in the opening of the second edition of the World Conference on Population, Health, and Human Development. He also acknowledged the support provided by UNDP to the Egyptian Ministry of Health in organizing the conference. Dr. Abdelatty noted that Egypt is preparing to host the World Urban Forum from November 4 to 8, 2024, emphasizing that Cairo’s role in hosting high-level UN events underscores Egypt’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and global initiatives in partnership with various UN organizations.

Minister Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s appreciation for the vital role played by UNDP in supporting the country’s development efforts. He expressed hope for an increase in the program’s contributions to Egypt, particularly given the challenges the country faces, including hosting large numbers of refugees. He outlined the Egyptian government’s initiatives to address these challenges, which include implementing an economic reform program, developing national policies, attracting foreign investments, boosting production, and launching numerous development projects aimed at creating job opportunities and advancing sustainable development goals.

On a regional level, the Foreign Minister discussed the political, security, and economic challenges facing the Arab region, emphasizing Egypt’s pivotal role in promoting regional stability and supporting UN efforts for sustainable development. He also addressed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli aggression, as well as the extension of hostilities into Lebanon. Dr. Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s efforts to contain the current crisis and alleviate the humanitarian suffering experienced by the Palestinians, stressing the importance of the UN and its various agencies, particularly development and humanitarian organizations, in mitigating this humanitarian tragedy and applying pressure to halt the violence.