President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi summit, Russia. October 17, 2018. Press Photo.
CAIRO - 17 October 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi told press he reviewed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the resumption of direct flights from Russia to Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, and others as well as the updates of mega joint projects, mainly the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and the Russian Economic Zone in SCzone.
On his part, the Russian president declared that Egyptian-Russian ties grew on all levels and scales, especially in the economic sector as trade exchange rose by 20 percent mid-2018 compared to last year. Putin stated he looks forward to more deliberation and coordination in addition to diversification and development of cooperation aspects, especially when it comes to Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.
The Russian leader added he aspires that continuous communication persists through the 2 + 2 committee comprising the defense and foreign ministers of both countries.
On the other hand, Sisi thanked his Russian counterpart for his supportive stances towards Egypt and for the warm welcome and generous hospitality.
Both presidents held talks during an official meeting in Sochi on joint cooperation and international files of mutual interest. The summit started by a private session comprising both presidents only followed by another including delegations of both countries.
Press Conference
Prior to the press conference, Egyptian and Russian foreign ministers Sameh Shokry and Sergey Lavrov signed the Strategic Political Memorandum. Later on, Sisi and Putin signed a memorandum pertinent to the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation Agreement.
Egyptian and Russian delegations in Sochi summit, Russia. 17 October 2918. Press Photo
Both leaders started their speeches by extending condolences to the families of victims of Crimea college bomb attack that took place earlier on Wednesday and killed 18 wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Bilateral Relations
Putin stated that the size of trade exchange between Egypt and Russia is $6.7 billion saying that Egypt’s collaboration with the Eurasian Asiatic Commission is most welcome aiming it would boost economic cooperation.
The Russian president added that his country is expected to sign partnerships with Egyptian companies that will take part in the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project which was discussed with his Egyptian counterpart. He added that the partnership between Egypt and Russia will extend to the oil sector capitalizing on his country’s expertise in the sector.
Putin stated that the prospective Russian Economic Zone in SCzone would attract investments of $7 billion creating jobs. He added that the production of such project would be mainly directed to African markets. He added that 1,300 railcars will be delivered to Egypt this year.
President Sisi said that the Russian Economic Zone will cause a shift from trade exchange between Egypt and Russia into industrial cooperation which diversifies the types of Russian goods in the Egyptian market.
Putin said he discussed with Sisi further military and technical cooperation. The Russian president affirmed that Egypt is “doing its best to secure Russian tourists.”
Regional Affairs
The Egyptian leader stated that the coordination between both countries extends to all regional matters out of their faith in the importance of reinstating stability in the region and saving its countries from destruction and demolition. Putin stated that Egyptian and Russian stances on different regional and international issues are close.
Putin said he spoke to the Egyptian president about steps Russia intends to take to achieve a settlement in Syria. He stated that his country is keeping a close eye on what is happening in Idlib that is still housing a big number of terrorists and militants that should be moved elsewhere and that Turkey was informed of his state’s stance.
Putin named the activation of the constitution-drafting committee and the return of refugees as Russia priorities in Syria in present praising the Egyptian role in bringing some parties to sit for talks in Sochi.
“We look forward to solutions that preserve the unity of Syria .. and the unification of the Libyan military institution,” Sisi said stressing that all states must inhibit the movements of terrorists who infiltrate into war-torn countries. The Russian leader pledged that his country would deploy efforts to reinstate stability in Libya.
“We talked about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process” which should find a fair solution that abides by 1967 borders and the UN resolutions, Sisi declared. “We call for all parties to hold negotiations in order to achieve peace in Jerusalem,” Putin said.
In the end, Sisi stressed the strength of Russian-Egyptian strategic relations. He also announced that 2020 would be a cultural year between Russia and Egypt. Putin concluded by wishing Egypt success in its leadership of the African Union (AU) in 2019.
Visit Wrap-up
Both leaders had an unofficial meeting on Tuesday evening in Sochi attended by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to discuss measures that would boost bilateral trade and economic partnership with a focus on large-scale joint energy projects.
During the meeting, Medvedev highlighted that Egypt is Russia's main partner in the Middle East and pointed out that the volume of trade between both countries increased by one-third since last year.
The two countries are partners in large projects, Medvedev said expressing hope that Sisi's visit will lead to more projects between Egypt and Russia.
سعادتى بالغة بلقاء صديقى الزعيم الروسى فلاديمير بوتين بمنتجع سوتشى الرائع، وتناقشنا فى عدة موضوعات هامة وتبادلنا الرؤى حول أبرز الملفات الدولية والإقليمية pic.twitter.com/CZWMVvtpG9
The president tweeted on Wednesday morning: “I am extremely glad to meet my friend Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the magnificent Sochi resort. We discussed several important subjects and exchanged views over major international and regional files.”
Sisi headed to Moscow on Monday on a three-day visit to Russia to hold talks with President Putin. On the same day, Putin issued a decree approving to sign a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation agreement with Egypt to include all levels.
The decree consists of endorsing proposals on the agreement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that are set in collaboration with executive authority institutions. The decree was published on the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI).
The president had laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier in Red Square in Moscow on Tuesday before he was received by Russia's Federal Council's Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko.
before the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, the Federation Council, becoming the first foreign leader to do so. The speech highlighted former and future joint achievements in the history of Egyptian-Russian relations.
On December 11, 2017, Putin visited Egypt for the second time since Sisi was sworn into office in May 2014; the visit came upon President Sisi's invitation in September 2017.
In February 2015, the Russian president visited Egypt and attended the signature of a number of agreements between Cairo and Moscow.
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