Salama:Philia Forum strengthens ties from ME to Gulf

Dr Ayman Salama, Professor of International Law stressed the significance of the Philia Forum held in Athens

Dr Ayman Salama, Professor of International Law stressed the significance of the Philia Forum held in Athens with the participation of Egypt, Cyprus, France, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

He stated that the meeting was to patch up differences with regional rival Turkey in the aftermath of its “gross violations” and expansionist role in the eastern Mediterranean.

During a phone interview on (Cairo Local Time), he underlined the Greece’s vital role in consolidating friendship ties and cooperation amid a meeting, the first of its kind, gathering between a host of foreign ministers and senior officials from the Middle East and the Gulf with those of Balkans and the rest of Europe to reiterate the substantial commitment to the United Nations maritime law.

Commenting on the legitimacy of the two Memoranda of Understanding endorsed in November 2019 between the Libyan Government of National Accord and Turkey according to the international maritime law, he reassured that such a forum is a strong condemnation and a reiteration by such participating countries of invalidity of such an agreement because it is “illegal” and doesn’t imply any positive repercussions to the wider region from the Mediterranean to the Gulf.

It’s pertinent to mention that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry participated in the Philia Forum held on February 11 in Athens with the participation of Bahrain’s FM Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Cypriot counterpart Nicos Christodoulides, Greek Nikos Dendias, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud and Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimi.

(Cairo Local Time) is aired on Nile TV International from Saturday to Thursday. This episode is conducted by Enjy Maher.