Saudi King affirms strong relations with Egypt in written message

CAIRO – 6 February 2020: President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received Thursday a written message from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in which he affirmed the strength of historical relations that bring together the two countries and their brotherly peoples.

King Salman further affirmed keenness to enhance the frameworks of strategic cooperation between the two countries at various levels, and continuation of joint work and intensive coordination with the Arab Republic of Egypt on various regional and international issues, according to a statement by the Saudi Press Agency.

The message was delivered by Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs Countries Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Qattan during a meeting today with President Sisi.

Last December, President Sisi praised Egyptian-Saudi relationship, calling it “a pillar of stability” in the Arab region

The Egyptian leader celebrated on Wednesday the release of 32 Egyptian fishermen who were held by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The fishermen were released on Tuesday after being detained for weeks. They were put on a chartered flight to Cairo from the rebel-held capital, Sanaa.

Sisi said on Twitter that “intensive efforts” by the government “saved the men’s lives and yielded their safe transfer to Egyptian lands”.

Immigration Minister Nabila Makram said in press remarks that the government had been trying to negotiate the release of the fishermen with the help of Yemeni and Saudi authorities since mid-December.