Egypt president, Greece PM discuss expanding cooperation, urge regional de-escalation

CAIRO – 8 January 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed the need for expanding cooperation between the two countries to include all areas of mutual concern and urged regional de-escalation.

As they met in Cairo ahead of the 10th Egypt-Cyprus-Greece Trilateral Cooperation Mechanism Summit on Wednesday, Sisi and Mitsotakis discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially economy.

They underscored the need to intensify cooperation within the framework of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), and work to implement the power interconnection project between Egypt and Greece.

The two leaders also highlighted the importance of continuing cooperation with regard to immigration as well as hiring Egyptian seasonal workers.

Besides bilateral ties, the meeting covered regional situation, especially developments in Palestine.

Sisi and Mitsotakis affirmed their support to a ceasefire and the facilitation of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, while underscoring the importance of working to implement the two-state solution.

On Lebanon, the leaders affirmed the significance of consolidating the ceasefire in Lebanon and implementing the UN Security Council resolution 1701.

They stressed the need for averting escalation in the entire region and working to achieve calm and stability.

Moreover, Sisi and Mitsotakis affirmed the necessity to safeguard security and stability in Syria, Libya and Sudan, while ensuring their territorial integrity and unity.

They underlined the importance of launching comprehensive political processes in these countries to achieve the desired peace and stability and preserve their peoples’ resources.

Sisi and Mitsotakis affirmed the deep and firm historical relations between Egypt and Greece, highlighting their commitment to enhancing their partnership.

Sisi received Mitsotakis, and the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in Cairo for their 10th trilateral summit today.

The summit today is expected to witness the signing of MoUs in areas including ports development, information and communications technology, boosting investment and enhancing healthcare, media reports quoted Cypriot Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis as saying.

Over the past decade, Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus have advanced their trilateral cooperation across various domains, including in energy, economics, and defense, as well as their political and diplomatic coordination.

This partnership has involved high-level exchanges and multiple summits to advance joint projects and initiatives.

A notable project in this collaboration is the EuroAfrica Interconnector, which is set to establish an electricity link between the grids of Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece through a 1,396 km subsea cable with a total capacity of 2,000 MW, serving as an energy conduit between Africa and Europe.

Furthermore, Egypt and Greece are collaborating on the GREGY project, aiming to create a 3,000 MW submarine cable spanning around 950 km, facilitating the exchange of green and cost-effective energy.