Cairo, 8-9 April 2026 – CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay conducted a series of high-level diplomatic engagements in Cairo, holding in-depth consultations with the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the League of Arab States and fostering academic and research synergies with Egypt’s prominent think tanks and research centers.
During wide-ranging discussions Secretary General Sarybay and Ambassador Amr El Sherbini, Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs and International Security, discussed CICA’s institutional development and the Azerbaijani Chairmanship's priorities, focusing on the outcomes of the Senior Officials Committee’s recent meeting in Astana this week and refinement of the CICA Charter ahead of the 7th Summit in Baku.
The officials talked about evolving security landscape in West Asia and Egypt’s role in bridging CICA with Africa. Secretary General Sarybay commended country’s proactive engagement throughout 2025 in implementing Confidence Building Measures across various dimensions.
Assistant Foreign Minister El Sherbini reaffirmed support for CICA’s transformation and mediation potential, commending its voluntary, consensus-based model as a unique engine for regional soft power.
In Cairo, Secretary General Sarybay visited Headquarters of the League of Arab States where he was received by the Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit.
Acknowledging the League’s long-standing role as a CICA Observer since 2002, Secretary General Sarybay noted that the active involvement of eight Arab nations as CICA Member States remains vital in strengthening ties and promoting regional cooperation.
In an exchange of views on West Asian security, both executives reaffirmed their dedication to multilateralism and peaceful conflict resolution as pillars of regional integration.
Secretary General Sarybay met with Mr. Mohamed El-Orabi, former Foreign Minister and nominee to the CICA Council of Eminent Persons (CEP), to deliberate on the geopolitical developments and security outlook in West Asia. Their dialogue focused on CICA’s role in regional confidence-building through its key institutions – including the CEP, Women Council, Youth Council, and Think Tank Forum. They further deliberated on the Azerbaijani Chairmanship’s priorities and the strategic transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization at the upcoming Baku Summit.
During the visit, Secretary General Sarybay engaged in talks with Ambassador Seif Kandeel, Director Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding. The interlocutors discussed soft power in conflict resolution, focusing on the women, peace, and security agenda and youth de-radicalization. Both sides agreed to explore synergies for capacity building between the CICA Youth Council and the Aswan Forum.
In the course of the working visit, Secretary General Sarybay visited Cairo University and attended presentation of the Arabic translation of the monograph “The Near and Middle East in the System of International Relations” authored by the late Ambassador Askar Mussinov.
Reflecting on a long-standing professional and personal bond with the author, Secretary General Sarybay described the book as an intellectual legacy of a statesman that serves as a diplomatic bridge, continuing to foster mutual trust and cooperation across the Arab world and beyond.
