Presidential Spokesman: Egypt is cooperating fully with Italian authorities on Regeni case

CAIRO -22 November 2020: "As per the directives of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the Egyptian authorities is cooperating fully with their Italian counterparts on the case of the Italian student Giulio Regeni, to reach the truth and achieve justice," said Egypt's presidency spokesman Bassam Rady.

The Italian News Agency (ANSA) published Radi's statement in response to the agency's questioning regarding the phone call between President Sisi and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday, and what was discussed regarding the case of Regeni.

The Italian agency also quoted Radi, "It is the first time in the history of the Egyptian Public Prosecution to send a judicial delegation outside the country headed by the Egyptian Attorney General to cooperate in criminal investigations, as was done with the Italian side in the Regeni case."

President al-Sisi received a phone call from Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday morning to discuss bilateral ties and international and regional issues of mutual concern, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.

“They also exchanged views on a number of regional files of common concern, atop of which are developments in the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya," the statement said.

The Italian Prime Minister expressed his country's keenness to continue strengthening bilateral relations, especially in the fields of trade, investment and military. “He also stressed the importance of intensive coordination and consultation with Egypt on regional issues and ways to settle crises in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regions,” the statement read.

Regeni, a 28-year old doctoral researcher, disappeared early in 2016 in the Egyptian capital; he was found dead in February of the same year, with his body bearing signs of torture. The perpetrators of the crime have not yet been brought to justice despite judicial cooperation between Egypt and Italy.