Refugees are treated like Egyptians: Sisi

CAIRO – 16 December 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Union commissioner for Migration, Citizenship and Home Affairs, on Saturday in the presence of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram.

During the meeting, the Egyptian president underscored the significance of dealing with the growing threat of illegal immigration through a comprehensive strategy that can address the root causes of the increased phenomena.

Sisi also stressed that fighting such a threat can be done through settling regional disputes, pushing for development and raising the standard of living for people affected by crises, emphasizing the key role that the European commission plays in this regard.

Moreover, Sisi stressed that Egypt is no place for displacement camps for refugees; instead, they are treated as nationals who enjoy the same chance at freedom and rights as citizens and are enabled to be mainstreamed into all sectors of society.

The European commissioner for Immigration Affairs stressed the European Union's keenness to strengthen cooperation and coordinate efforts in the area of fighting illegal immigration, expressing his appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the current leadership to save the country from impending troubles. This contributed to maintain the stability of countries of the Mediterranean or Eastern Europe, the statement added.