Diverse viewpoints enhance effectiveness of National Dialogue’s outcomes: Sisi

CAIRO – 3 May 2023: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has stressed that the “diverse and different” viewpoints and proposals significantly enhance the effectiveness of the National Dialogue’s outcomes that he is expecting.

Sisi made the remarks during the inaugural session of the National Dialogue, which he called for in April last year in order for political forces and other society’s representatives to discuss social, political and economic issues.

Sisi stressed that his call for the dialogue “has stemmed from a strong belief that I hold about our Egyptian nation having the capabilities and potential that provides it with many alternatives to find paths toward progress in all political, economic, and social fields”.

“Our dear Egypt possesses the competencies of minds, sincerity of intentions, and the will of work, which makes it at the forefront of nations and states,” Sisi said.

The president affirmed that the growing challenges facing the Egyptian state at all levels have strengthened the necessity of dialogue, expressing aspiration for a comprehensive, effective and lively dialogue.

Sisi said he expects the dialogue to contain all opinions, bring together all viewpoints, and achieving tangible and well-thought-out results on all issues at all levels.

Sisi also pledged to participate in the National Dialogue’s final sessions.

The National Dialogue’s opening session kicked off today with a broad-based and effective participation by representatives of all syndicates, political forces and NGOs.

Multiple political, economic, and social topics are set to be discussed during the dialogue’s various sessions.

The opening session is open to all accredited Egyptian and foreign media outlets and the dialogue’s sessions are set to be public.

Human rights files, including amending the provisions of the pretrial detention and releasing pretrial detainees, are set to become on top of the dialogue’s agenda.

Meanwhile, General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan said on Tuesday that he received “reassurances” that Case 173 in which a number of Egyptian and foreign NGOs have been charged of receiving illegal funds from abroad, will be closed soon.