Gulf-Qatar dispute will not escalate to arms, says Sisi

CAIRO – 14 June 2017: President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi has ruled out the possibility that the Arab Gulf’s dispute with Qatar could escalate to an armed conflict.

In a Wednesday interview with Deutschlandfunk radio in Berlin, Sisi also warned the European and international community of any further spread of terrorist groups. “Terrorism is not limited to ISIS only; there are too many other armed groups around the world, including Boko Haram and Bait al-Maqdis,” Sisi said.

President Sisi called on European governments to push the countries that finance terrorism to put an end to the escalating terrorist attacks. “We can’t remain silent,” he said. “Our main problem is with extreme thoughts and ideas.”

Per German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s invitation, President Sisi participated Monday in the summit organized by the German presidency of the G20 for the partnership with Africa, under the title "G20 Africa Partnership - Investing in a Common Future."

The summit was attended by the presidents of Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Tunisia, Mali, and Niger, in addition to representatives of international financial organizations.

During his visit to Berlin Sisi met with Merkel, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and head of the Parliamentary majority Volker Kauder.