Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a press conference following talks with Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, on Sunday, that Cairo hopes to continue cooperation with Moscow on joint projects.

"We hope to continue strong cooperation based on mutual respect and common benefit," Shoukry told the press.

The Egyptian FM further stated that Cairo is interested in ensuring the completion of all these projects and that Cairo and Moscow collaborate on big national initiatives in a number of areas.

According to Lavrov, Russian grain producers have reaffirmed their willingness to fulfill their responsibilities with regard to their deliveries to Cairo.

"We have confirmed the commitment of Russian grain exporters to all the assumed obligations," Lavrov added that Russian President Vladimir Putin "also confirmed the initiative during a recent phone conversation with Egyptian President [Abdel Fattah El-Sisi]".

Furthermore, according to Shoukry's press conference, he discussed with Lavrov Cairo's relations with "the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and other organizations with which we coordinate."

In turn, Russia welcomed "the interest of our Egyptian friends in obtaining the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the decision [on granting the status] is expected in September at the next SCO summit, and we welcome Egypt's participation in the BRICS+ format," Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, Moscow believes that the UN will make it easier to withdraw the unlawful sanctions that have impeded the shipment of Russian grain within the parameters of the unprecedented agreement signed in Istanbul. 

Lavrov told the press that "In the current conditions, those illegitimate sanctions, which were introduced and which prevented the implementation of operations with Russian grain, including insurance, the entrance of our ships to foreign ports and of foreign ships to Russian ports... Now, after the signing of the agreements in Istanbul on the initiative of the UN Secretary-General [Antonio Guterres]... He volunteered to seek the removal of these illegitimate restrictions. Let's hope he succeeds." 

The Russian foreign minister stated that while Moscow is not requesting that Western nations reverse the sanctions, they must resolve the issues they have caused with regard to food and grain for the rest of the globe.

Representatives from Ukraine and Russia signed a deal on Friday in Istanbul after it was mediated by Turkey and the UN. As a result, export restrictions on Russian goods were abolished and Moscow was given permission to help export Ukrainian grain.

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