‘Arab issues’ is a recurring theme in Sisi’s UN speeches

CAIRO – 19 September 2017: Given Egypt’s pivotal role in sponsoring peace processes in the Middle East, and its crisis-mediator role that it has taken upon itself, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, never passed on putting the plug on the Arab dilemmas during all of his UN appearances. He always tackles regional political crises and internationally hammers out solutions and way-outs, with the Palestinian cause always topping his UN agenda.

The United Nations General Assembly’s 69th Session
Only four months into his election as Egypt’s sixth president, President Sisi participated in the 69th UN General Assembly, where he stressed the efforts exerted by Egypt to resolve the regional crises of the various Arab countries.

Sisi pointed out in his speech that Egypt had already put forward an initiative, in collaboration with Libyan military officials in order to stem armament of the Libyan militia, sponsoring the domestic democratic process to reach a political consensus solution.

On the Iraqi battlefront, Sisi hailed the establishment of the Iraqi government, stressing that it posed a significant role in deterring the ISIS terrorist group and precluded its progression.

The United Nations General Assembly 70th session:
During the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Sisi highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to ensure the end of the political feud in Libya, culminated in Egypt’s persistence in pushing forward the “Skhirat” agreement which entails the participation of Libyan warring factions in the political process.

Speaking on the Yemeni civil war, Sisi stressed that Egypt repudiates any “foreign interference” in Arab affairs, expressing Egypt’s full support to the government and people of Yemen.

Sisi further extended Egypt’s welcoming of Syrian political parties to convene in Cairo, in quest for a clear political strategy that could meet the aspirations of the Syrian people and ensure the preservation of its social, tribal diversity and national identity.

The United Nations General Assembly 71st session:

“Bloodshed in Syria is no longer acceptable,” President Sisi reiterated in his message to the attendees of the UN General Assembly 71st session, calling on the international community to find an immediate political solution to resolve the crisis that bogs down the progression of political processes.

As for Libya, Sisi highlighted that Egypt hosts the meetings of the fraternal Libyan parties to ensure that they remain on equal terms with each other in facilitating the implementation of the Sikhart agreement, and in establishing a national unity government as well, reiterating Egypt’s call for lifting the arms embargo on the Libyan army.