President Sisi affirms Egypt’s keenness to have integrated, fruitful cooperation with Qatar

CAIRO - 28 August 2021: In a meeting between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the first time in more than four years since severing ties between Egypt and Qatar,  President Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness on having integrated and fruitful cooperation with Qatar for construction and development, and support of the Arab solidarity.

 

On the sidelines of “Baghdad Cooperation and Partnership’ conference on Saturday, President Sisi and Emir of Qatar held a bilateral discussion, Egyptian presidency spokesperson Bassam Radi said on his official Facebook page.

 

The Emir of Qatar praised the positive developments in the Egyptian-Qatari relations, resumption of bilateral cooperation and the recent exchange of diplomatic visits the two countries.

 

Qatari Prince Tamim also affirmed his country’s aspiration to enhance bilateral relations with Egypt, in light of the strategic and pivotal role that Egypt plays under the leadership of President Sisi to consolidate security, stability and development regionally.

 

President Sisi and Qatari Emir agree on the importance of continuing consultation and working to advance relations during the next stage, within the framework of Al Ola Agreement.

 

On June 5, 2017, Egypt and three other Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain) decided to cut ties with the oil-rich state of Qatar over accusations of funding terrorism and harboring extremists and wanted-terrorists; charges which Qatar has denied. However, early January 2021, the Arab countries ended their boycott with Qatar, after signing Al Ola Agreement at the 41st Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

 

On June 15, 2021, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi sent an invitation to Prince Tamim to visit Egypt at the earliest opportunity, according to a Tuesday statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The invitation was sent by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Doha.

 

In June 2021, President Sisi appointed Amr El-Sherbini as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Qatar, while the Qatari Emir appointed Salem bin Mubarak bin Shafi Al Shafi as an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Arab Republic of Egypt in July 2021.