President Sisi, Bulgarian counterpart discuss illegal migration

CAIRO - 26 March 2019: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi held talks with his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev in Cairo on Tuesday. Among the matters discussed was illegal migration.

The Bulgarian president arrived in Cairo on Monday heading a delegation to discuss bilateral relations and developments of international matters of mutual interest. Radev invited his Egyptian counterpart to visit Bulgaria.

In his speech at Ittihadiya presidential palace, Radev expressed his country’s support to Egypt’s role in establishing peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa, and lauded the partnership between Egypt and Bulgaria.

On his side, President Sisi thanked Bulgaria for its balanced stances on the phase Egypt was going through over the past years. The president also announced launching the Egyptian-Bulgrian Business Council.

The Bulgarian president stated in a joint press conference with Sisi that there are agreements between the two states that have to be updated. He also announced that a number of agreements will be signed later today and that an agreement to form a joint cooperation committee was concluded.

Radev stated that the size of trade exchange between Egypt and Bulgaria surpasses $1 billion, and that both countries target to boost it. He added that both countries can further cooperate in the industrial and military sectors as well as in maritime transportation.

The Bulgarian president highlighted that both countries are interested in the diversification of energy sources, emphasizing the importance of natural gas. Radev said that both countries may also cooperate in the field of electric cars,and education.

"We reviewed regional and international issues of mutual concern and our discussions showed identical views regarding many developments and ways to deal with a number of current crises to reach peaceful solutions. This asserts the need to continue coordinating and communicating with each other to support stability in the Middle East and the Balkan region," President Sisi said as reported by MENA.

"We exchanged views on ways to promote cooperation and security coordination to face the danger of terrorism. We reiterated the importance of exerting collective international efforts to confront and uproot terrorism. I have expounded Egypt's vision regarding the need to draw up a comprehensive strategy to fight terrorism on all levels including confronting bodies and countries that support terrorist and extremist groups and organizations," the president added.