U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi - Press photo
NEW YORK – 21 September 2017: U.S. President Donald Trump praised Egyptian President Abel Fatah al-Sisi’s efforts in reviving the Middle East peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, Egypt’s presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef said in a statement early Thursday.
During his meeting with Trump at the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72) late Wednesday, President Sisi discussed Egypt's efforts to achieve inter-Palestinian reconciliation as an essential preliminary step to resume negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Youssef said.
President Sisi expressed Egypt’s aspiration for further coordination and consultation with the U.S. on various issues in the region, particularly that of counterterrorism, “which poses a great threat to the stability of the region and the world.” He also emphasized that putting an end to funding and harboring terrorists is a must.
Sisi offered his condolences to Trump for the victims of Hurricane Irma, which claimed the lives of at least 61 people and caused considerable damage.
The U.S. President hailed the distinguished bilateral relations with Egypt, stressing the importance of promoting ways of enhancing them, Youssef added.
Trump told the Egyptian president that the U.S. appreciates everything he's done and vice versa. He says U.S.-Egyptian relations are "very good," AP reported.
Sisi thanked Trump for meeting with him while they are in New York for the UNGA 72.
Last April, Trump welcomed Sisi in the White House and held a meeting with him to discuss the wars and crises in the Middle East region.
Sisi called on the Israelis and Palestinians to trust their leaderships and follow the peace example between Egypt and Israel. He also urged the Palestinians in his Tuesday speech at the UNGA 72 to unite.
He emphasized that security in the region is based on ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and addressed Palestinians by saying that it is important to believe in statehood alongside an Israeli state.
Egypt brokered a Palestinian national reconciliation government this week, which will take over the authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the latter which had been controlled by Hamas. Cairo hopes the new Palestinian government will engage in peace negotiations with Israel, as Sisi has already tackled the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Monday, President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi held talks with the Palestinian president and Netanyahu to discuss boasting the peace talks.
Also, during the Arab-Islamic-American Summit held last May, President Sisi met with his American counterpart for the third time.
Sisi also met on Monday shortly after arrival with several American officials at his residence as part of his agenda in New York.
According to a presidential statement issued on September 16, Sisi is anticipated to present Egypt’s vision on ongoing global issues and mechanisms to boost peace and stability in the world, in addition to the Egyptian stance towards regional issues in the Middle East and efforts to combat terrorism.
Sisi has met already with several American and Arab political officials, including a high-level American delegation, UAE’s Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Saudi Ambassador to Washington Khaled bin Salman Al-Saud.
According to Youssef, both meetings (the one with the UAE’s minister and the other with the Saudi ambassador) were very successful, as all parties praised the good relations on different levels. All cases related to the Arabian topics expected to be discussed during the UNGA meetings were highlighted during the two meetings.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi during their meeting in New York on Wednesday
Sisi’s participation in the UNGA 72 this year is considered his fourth since taking office in June 2014. Egypt’s foreign policies have witnessed significant development in the global and regional arenas. Egypt is a key player in fighting terrorism globally and boosting peace through its 30,000 soldiers’ participation in UN peacekeeping missions, along with Egypt’s efforts to solve the Syrian, Palestinian, Yemeni and Libyan crises.
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