Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Fahmy received a phone call from his American counterpart John Kerry Saturday that sought to clarify Egypt’s stance on peace talks between Israel and Palestine, a statement released by the Egyptian ministry announced.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Fahmy “stress[ed] the importance of establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with all relevant United Nations decisions and references”.

Fahmy also clarified the implementation of the Egyptian post-3 July roadmap.

The phone call came on the heels of stern remarks by Kerry after a Minya judge sentenced 529 defendants to death for the murder of a police officer in August.

Although the foreign ministry makes no mention regarding the specifics of the call, it said that “during the call, [Kerry and Fahmy] agreed to continue bilateral consultations in the coming period”.

On 26 March, Kerry released a statement condemning the recent Minya mass-trial, which he said “defies logic”.

“It is impossible to believe that such a proceeding satisfied even the most basic standards of justice,” he said, adding: “The interim government must understand the negative message that this decision, if upheld, would send to the world about Egypt’s commitment to international law and inclusivity.”