Sisi: Cypriot and Palestinian causes top priorities in joint talks

CAIRO – 21 November 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said on Tuesday that the Cypriot and Palestinian causes will remain a top priority during joint talks between Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt.

Delivering a speech during a joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Sisi expressed his appreciation to Anastasiades for his warm reception and hospitality since his arrival to Cyprus.

Sisi noted that new crises such as the situations in Libya and Syria have emerged, noting that these crises pose a challenge for the three countries in order to adhere to international law principles and support these states and their peoples to overcome the current dangers.

As for illegal immigrants, Sisi noted that it is one of the results of the crisis in the region.

On the other hand, Sisi stressed that the summit focused on promoting common economic cooperation to provide job opportunities for youth, looking forward to witnessing tangible results in their countries that should preserve their interests and ensure their future.

He added that, on this regard, promising cooperation in the fields of energy and recycling have been discussed in the summit to achieve sustainable development.

He further explained that the mechanisms of cooperation among Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt aim to enhance economic and political cooperation, noting that these mechanisms have become a pillar of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

He remarked that terrorism will remain a great threat imposed on humanity, not just the peoples of the region. Moreover, countries should unite against that threat as safety is one of the simplest human rights.

During the trilateral summit, Sisi, Anastasiades and Tsipras agreed to organize a week entitled “Egyptian, Greek and Cypriot Communities to Revive the Roots” in January, during which those who had lived in Egypt could return back within the week to visit the places they had resided in.

The fifth trilateral summit between Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt launched on Tuesday with the participation of Sisi, Anastasiades, and Tsipras.

Anastasiades received Sisi on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace in Cyprus ahead of Sisi’s talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Sisi’s participation in the fifth trilateral Summit between Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt comes under the tripartite cooperation mechanism launched in November 2014. Anastasiades, Sisi and Tsipras will deliver speeches during the summit.

The fifth summit aims to discuss ways to support and deepen exceptional relations among the three states, activate existing cooperation, and promote political dialogue on how to combat challenges in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region.