Egypt's president arrives in Cyprus, holds meeting with counterpart

CAIRO – 21 October 2020: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi arrived in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, on Wednesday to attend the 8th Tripartite Summit with the chiefs of state of Cyprus and Greece.

Sisi began his state visit with a meeting with Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades. The former praised the Cypriot stances backing Egypt in international forums as well as international and regional organizations. He also affirmed eagerness to activate the cooperation frameworks, and intensify consultation over matters of mutual interest whether on a bilateral level and on a trilateral level with Greece.

On his part, Anastasiades valued the visit of the Egyptian president and the ties between both countries. The Cypriot president asserted his country's continuous reinforcement of the cooperation mechanism with Egypt and Greece. He added that Egypt is the pillar of stability in the Middle East, and that it deploys efforts to combat terrorism and illegal migration.

Both presidents congrued upon going forward with the accomplishment of joint projects agreed upon in relation to the trilateral cooperation mechanism so as it becomes a model for Mediterranean states in terms of coordination and consultation.

The two heads of state also conferred over regional developments, efforts made to assist states going through crises in the region, and the support that can be granted to the national institutions of those states in order to reach a political settlement, reinstate security and stability, and preserve territorial integrity.

According to Cyprus National Agency, CNA the Summit would be discussing the illegal activities of Turkey in Famagusta and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Deputy Government Spokesman Panayiotis Sentonas said in a statement that the three countries leaders will focus on the results and the progress of the trilateral mechanism, cooperation in the field of energy, migration issue, fighting terrorism, as well as the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

In October, 2019, Sisi attended the 7th tripartite cooperation summit between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, describing it as a real opportunity for exchanging views and coordinating efforts regarding challenges and international issues.

During a press conference, Sisi said that he, Anastasiades, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the turbulence taking place in the region that represents a threat to the regional neighbors, deprives people of the right to a safe life, and creates new crises.

The trio stressed on the importance of reaching binding legislation to counter terrorist groups, and hinder their recruitment of youth using technological methods. Sisi added, “Terrorism is an international phenomenon that can never be linked to any religion or culture.”

During the summit, the three leaders also tackled the illegal immigration crisis, taking into consideration the demographic changes among the region’s peoples, and the needs of the European labor market, which might be the basis of containing the negative effects of the crisis in a way that will achieve a win-win situation to all parties involved.

Sisi stated in his speech that reaching a political solution in Libya is a must, and the only solution to achieve stability, and that it should come along with a comprehensive addressing of the crisis sources by unifying its institutions and establishing a parliamentary monitoring of the political and economic decisions in Libya.