Sisi discusses MENA developments, joint cooperation with Greece, Cyprus

CAIRO – 9 October 2019: President Abdel Fatah al- Sisi praised the 7th tripartite cooperation summit among Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, describing it as a real opportunity for exchanging views and coordinating efforts regarding challenges and international issues.

During a press conference on Tuesday, President Sisi said that he, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the turbulence taking place in the region that represents a threat to the regional neighbors, deprives people of the right to a safe life, and creates new crises.

The trio stressed on the importance of reaching binding legislation to counter terrorist groups, and hinder their recruitment of youth using technological methods. President Sisi added, “Terrorism is an international phenomenon that can never be linked to any religion or culture.”

During the summit, the three officials also tackled the illegal immigration crisis, taking into consideration the demographic changes among the region’s peoples, and the needs of the European labor market, which might be the basis of containing the negative effects of the crisis in a way that will achieve a win-win situation to all parties involved.

President Sisi stated in his speech that reaching a political solution in Libya is a must, and the only solution to achieve stability, and that it should come along with a comprehensive addressing of the crisis sources by unifying its institutions and establishing a parliamentary monitoring of the political and economic decisions in Libya.

The tripartite summit further discussed the developments in Syria, where the officials assured the efforts exerted by the UN envoy in Syria to reach the desired political settlement, with the total rejection of attempts to use force, to deduct parts of the Syrian territory or impose a new status quo in the region in violation of international laws.

Sisi expressed the will to activate the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. He further said that there is no alternative to the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

President Sisi welcomed signing a number of documents and executive programs among Egypt, Cyprus and Greece in the field of investment for the years 2019-2021, in addition to signing the agreement on dual taxation prevention between Egypt and Cyprus.

The three leaders ensured the importance of maintaining joint coordination and consultation and close cooperation among the three nations.

Parts of the report are taken from MENA