Sisi, Bashir vow closer bilateral ties in various fields

CAIRO – 20 July 2018: Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi held talks with Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir on Thursday at the presidential palace in Khartoum, followed by a joint press conference and an extended session of talks between the delegations of the two countries.

Sisi began a two-day visit to Sudan earlier on Thursday, during which he sat with Al-Bashir to discuss bilateral ties. It is Sisi’s first visit to Khartoum since being re-elected to a second presidential term earlier this year.

“Today's visit came in the framework of a clear joint policy between the two sister countries which became an integral part of our regional and international orientations to support the common strategic interests of the two nations in all fields, whether political, economic, security, water or cultural,” said Sisi.

The Egyptian president added: "I would like to extend my appreciation to you ]Al-Bashir[ for your obvious efforts to support brotherly relations between Egypt and Sudan. This is what has been shown through forming bilateral committees to overcome many of the difficulties we faced together... And also through the initiation of joint national projects, especially the joint electric grid.”

"I would also like to express appreciation for your sincere efforts to settle regional disputes and to achieve peace and stability in the region, which we hope will be completed successfully, because they reflect sincere desire and a clear vision to promote stability,” Sisi said, adding “I also assure you that Egypt will continue its full support for these efforts and to continue contributing to achieving the desired peace and prosperity goals in the region.”

Regarding the recent reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eretria, Sisi said "we are very happy with the positive developments between the two countries and Egypt will continue its full support to achieve peace, stability and constructive cooperation between the two sister countries.”

President Sisi backed an ongoing regional bid to resolve the conflict in South Sudan as he praised Khartoum for hosting peace talks between the country's warring groups.

Sisi said the peace talks in the Sudanese capital were aimed at achieving peace and stability in neighboring South Sudan, where tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since a brutal civil war erupted in December 2013.

"To South Sudan, I want to say that we will work together with our brothers in the region for achieving peace so that South Sudanese people enjoy stability and prosperity," said Sisi in remarks broadcast on state TV after holding talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

"These efforts ... have a clear vision when it comes to security, stability and development of regional countries," added Sisi.

The war in South Sudan began at the end of 2013 after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy, now rebel leader, Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

Khartoum, as part of regional efforts to end the conflict in South Sudan, has already hosted peace talks between the arch-foes.

For his part, Sudanese President Al-Bashir said that “both countries have agreed to promote relations in economic, trade, security and military fields, to wipe out all obstacles to the movement of individuals and cargo and to launch two-way power grid and railways.”

He added that concerned ministers of both countries have been instructed to put all relevant directives in place according to timetables.