Sisi, Mitsotakis urge enhancing Egyptian-Greek economic, energy cooperation

CAIRO – 3 August 2023: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis affirmed the need to enhance military, economic and cultural, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement.

In a meeting in New Alamein city on Thursday, Sisi and Mitsotakis also stressed the importance of continuing energy cooperation with regard to natural gas, power linkage and green transformation.

They affirmed keenness to ensure quick activation and implementation of the agreements and MoUs signed by the two countries within the framework of the Egyptian-Greek cooperation.

Mediterranean challenges

The two leaders discussed regional issues of mutual concern as well as the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF). They also tackled the illegal immigration phenomenon in the Mediterranean.

In this regard, Mitsotakis praised the Egyptian efforts to face illegal immigration especially in light of the burden that Egypt shoulders by hosting millions of refugees.

The Greek premier said his country is keen to continue expanding relations with Egypt at various levels, especially in light of the prominent Egyptian role in facing the current crises and challenges in the Mediterranean region.

 

Meanwhile, Mitsotakis expressed appreciation to Egypt for sending planes to help in extinguishing forest fires in Greece. Sisi, for his part, extended condolences and solidarity to Greece over the wildfires, affirming that Egypt stands by Greece in the face of the crisis.

Sisi congratulated Mitsotakis again on the electoral victory achieved by his ruling party in the Greek parliamentary elections last June, which has confirmed the Greek voters’ confidence in Mitsotakis’s leadership, the statement said.

Also, Sisi hailed Greece's positions towards Egypt at the bilateral level as well as within the framework of the European Union (EU).

The president also praised the fruitful cooperation between Egypt and Greece within the tripartite cooperation mechanism with Cyprus.

Egypt and Greece share strong bilateral relations, especially in the political and economic fields, and embark on joint development projects at the bilateral level and also at the trilateral level with Cyprus.
This includes a potential power project under which the three countries plan to link their electricity grids as per an MoU they signed in October 2021.

The three countries have also held numerous summits to push forward their tripartite cooperation projects and enhance their relations in all fields.

Ukraine, Libya

During Thursday’s meeting, Sisi and Mitsotakis discussed the developments of the Russia-Ukraine crisis as well as the crisis in Libya.

In this regard, Sisi affirmed Egypt’s stance in supporting the political track in Libya, highlighting the importance of holding the presidential and parliamentary elections as constitutional entitlements.

 

Sisi also stressed the need for the exit of all foreign troops and mercenaries from the Libyan lands in order for Libya to restore its sovereignty, territorial unity and stability.

The two sides agreed on continuing their intensified coordination on common challenges facing the region in order to achieve the aspirations of their peoples in living in peace, security and stability.