Sisi: Fighting terrorism is a human right

CAIRO – 6 November 2017: Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi inaugurated on Sunday the first edition of the World Youth Forum (WYF) in the South Sinai resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh with the participation of 3,200 youths from 113 different nationalities under the slogan ‘We Need to Talk.’

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and a number of ministers, officials and public figures attended the opening ceremony of the five-day conference organized under the auspices of the president.

During his inauguration speech, Sisi started with enthusiastic words about the danger of terrorism on all humanity and Egypt’s fight against extremism.

“Terrorism violates and destroys our human nature. The fight against terrorism is a right to humanity.”

Sisi expressed his delight for hosting the huge number of youth who came from around the world “upon the invitation of Egyptian youth who aim to create a hopeful future for Egypt and the entire world on the basis of peace and development.”

He greeted the Egyptian young people who participated in the forum, stating, “I’m proud of my country’s enthusiastic youth who struggle tirelessly to build a future, coping with their dreams and ambitions.”

The president asserted that the Egyptian youth’s future vision is derived from their Pharaonic ancestors, who built the first human civilization and set the initial principles of stability and peace in the world.

“The great Egyptian young people managed to protect their human heritage from those who try to destroy civilization. They succeeded to defeat extreme groups’ vacuous plans that adopted violence and murder.”

Sisi added, “In parallel with the battle against terrorism, the Egyptians started another battle of development and construction.”

The president pointed out that his support to holding this forum comes out of his true belief that the dialogue, exchange of views and creating common spaces between different parties are the only solution to any challenge facing the nation.

“Egypt is fated to be in the middle of the world and the junction between international civilizations and religions,” Sisi asserted.

"The cultural and civilization diversity in this hall gives us all the hope and confidence that the future generations are capable of dialogue and turning the dream of peace, the dream of a world without refugees, the dream of a world without poor families, and the dream of a world without the extremists into reality."

The president concluded his speech by calling on the Egyptian and global youth to adopt objective dialogue and peaceful coexistence virtues without age, racial or sex discrimination, or bias to any party.