Egypt’s declaration of state of emergency is understandable: EU diplomat

CAIRO – 17 April 2017: Europe understands Egypt’s reasons to declare a state of emergency and it will continue to support the country despite the terrorist attacks, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt Ivan Surkos told Italian news agency Nova on Sunday.

“I understand the reasons that prompted President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to take such a measure [the state of emergency]," Surkos said. “Terrorists do not scare us; they are a common enemy that we must fight together,” he added.

Acknowledging that the state of emergency could have a negative impact on tourism, the Italian diplomat stressed that the EU will try to help Egypt attract more tourists. "Tourists may have a different image of the country after the attacks but the quality of the facilities and touristic sites in Egypt will always be attractive," Surkos said.

He further referred to an "ambitious" future for EU programs in Egypt. "We are working on additional financial contracts for the next three years,” he said, stressing that “the recent terrorist attacks did not deter Europe from continuing to support Egypt.”

Egypt declared a state of emergency for three months on April 9, following terrorist attacks that targeted two churches in Tanta and Alexandria on

Palm Sunday

, leaving at least 45 people killed and over 110 injured.