Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi walk during a meeting in Cairo, Egypt December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Alexander
CAIRO - 12 December 2017: A panorama of Russian President Vladimir Putin's brief visit to Egypt Included several topics with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fatah al-Sisi Syrian crisis and Egyptian Dabaa nuclear plant were on the top of discussions.
President Sisi receives Russia's Vladimir Putin
President
has received his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Cairo International Airport on Monday.In his second official visit to Egypt since President Sisi assumed power in 2014, President Putin will discuss ways of enhancing the bilateral relations between their countries.
President Sisi receives his counterpart Putin at the Cairo International Airport- Press Photo
Both leaders will attend the inauguration of Egypt's first nuclear power plant, which located at the Mediterranean city of Dabaa in Marsa Matrouh, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity, Mohamed Shaker, previously told Egypt Today. A Russian delegation consisting of 35 officials arrived in Cairo on Thursday to prepare for Putin's visit to the capital, according to security forces at Cairo International Airport.
On September 5, Sisi invited Putin to attend the final signing ceremony of the Dabaa plant in Egypt, and Putin announced that he accepted the invitation. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail announced that the foundation stone of the Dabaa nuclear power plant will be laid soon. In February 2015, the Russian President visited Egypt and attended the signature of a number of deals Cairo and Moscow.
Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant
Putin and Sisi witnessed the signing of the
contracts between the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and Russian nuclear firm Rosatom. The contracts cover designing and constructing the plant, supplying nuclear fuel, consulting services for operation and maintenance, and fuel recycling.
Russian President Vladimir Putin with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, 11 December 2017- Press Photo
The plant includes four third-generation reactors with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW) each, for a total of 4,800 megawatts. The plant will be built on approximately 12,000 feddans and is expected to create over 50,000 job opportunities. The first reactor will be accomplished in 2026, while the rest will be finished in 2028.
A preliminary agreement was signed by Egypt and Russia in November 2015 to build a nuclear power plant in Dabaa, along with a $25 billion loan to cover 85 percent of the plant, with Egypt funding the remaining 15 percent. Local funding for the first two reactors will be 20 and 25 percent respectively, and will gradually increase to 35 percent for the other two reactors.
Putin: Protocol to be signed soon to address resuming flights
Russian President
said Monday he discussed with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi speeding joint steps to resume direct passenger flights that were halted between both states since 2015.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) in Cairo, Egypt December 11, 2017 - REUTERS/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool
In a joint press conference held in Cairo, Putin added that Russia is ready to resume direct passenger flights to Egypt. He further praised Egypt’s “major steps” taken to upgrade security measures at airports. He also announced that a protocol is expected to be signed soon between both governments to address the flight resuming issue.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Cairo International Airport on Monday. In his second official visit to Egypt since President Sisi assumed power in 2014, President Putin will discuss ways of enhancing the bilateral relations between their countries.
Putin informs Sisi on meeting details with Syrian president
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi that he would inform him of the details of his meeting with Syrian President
earlier on Monday, and he also stressed “the many upcoming good projects, including the Dabaa nuclear power plant.”
Russia Today reported that Putin told the Egyptian president that he would also update him on Russia’s agreements with the leaderships of Turkey and Iran regarding the next steps of the political settlement in Syria.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi receives his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, December 11, 2017 – Press Photo
The Russian president held a sudden meeting with his Syrian counterpart in a military base in Syria prior to his visit to Egypt. "I order the Defense Ministry and the chief of the General Staff to begin the pullout of the Russian military group to permanent locations," Putin told an audience of military personnel Monday, according to TASS.
This visit marks Putin's first trip to Syria and comes as Assad's forces have regained control over most of Syria under Russian air cover. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Sergey Surovikin, commander of the Russian troops in Syria, accompanied Putin during his trip to Syria's coastal province of Latakia. The air base has served as the main foothold for the air campaign Russia has waged since September 2015 in support of Assad.
We discussed regional matters affecting both countries: Sisi
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi emphasized the eagerness of Egypt and Russia to cooperate in regional matters affecting the national security of both countries in a way that restores security and stability in the Middle East and secures a better future for its people.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi receives his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, December 11, 2017 – Press Photo
President Sisi said on Monday in a joint press conference during Russian President Validimir Putin’s visit to Cairo that they discussed the recent decision by the United States to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, and its repercussions on the region. Both leaders agreed on the necessity of adhering to the United Nations (UN) resolutions on Jerusalem’s status.
The president praised the Russian role in attempts to resolve the Palestinian cause throughout the past decades, whether unilaterally or within the international quartet on the Middle East, which is comprised of the U.N., the European Union, the United States and Russia.
Putin leaves Cairo after a successful summit with Sisi
Russian President Vladimir Putin left
Monday after a several hours' visit.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi discussed with Putin ways of boosting bilateral relations in various domains, particularly the political, trade, economic and energy ones as well as a number of regional issues of common interest.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi during his meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in china - Press photo
Both presidents agreed on strengthening the exchange of information between both countries on anti-terrorism efforts, especially regarding the issue of terrorists fleeing instable spots to other countries. Sisi also highlighted that it is crucial for countries to inhibit the passage of terrorists through their territories, as well as reporting any relevant information to other countries and entitled international organizations.
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