Sisi: Mitsotakis meeting

Joint statements the prime minister is currently giving up Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the President of Egypt Abdel Fatah al -Sisiafter completing his work Supreme Cooperation Cooperation of Greece-Egypt.

“Greece and Egypt relations are very deep in history and with very strong branches that give fruit to the present and are very ready to spread even further in the future,” Mr Mitsotakis initially said. “With the Joint Declaration for Strategic Cooperation, we are in practice confirming the common will to further upgrade our close cooperation. We are opening new paths to many fields, from energy and shipping to our education, culture and our bilateral commercial relations, which we have agreed to practice intensively so that we can make them even more powerful. “

“I would like to emphasize that with Egypt we have a very close cooperation on very critical issues in the region, which we always approach according to the principles of international law. 5 years ago we signed a maritime zone delineation agreement. An exemplary deal, important to the entire Eastern Mediterranean, which is fruitful for both our countries. Between Greece and Egypt there are healthy bases to continue coordinated together to face our common challenges. Today Athens and Cairo are on the same bank. “

He made a special reference to the Holy Catherine to Sinaias he said, people in Egypt in the last 10 years have believed that pluralism should be respected. “Let me a special reference to the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai. I would like to thank you for the preservation of the monastery and its Greek Orthodox character. “

‘I would like to thank Egypt for her timeless support in Cyprus. We know that a sustainable evolution would work not only for the benefit of the Republic of Cyprus, but also of the whole eastern Mediterranean. That is why unacceptable positions about two states can still be moved today, nor provocative statements that ultimately do all they do is charge the climate of approach and dialogue. To say otherwise, no illegal accomplishment can have power in the future. “

‘We discussed the role of Egypt in a new truce in Gauze”Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized. “Greece supports the Arab plan to rebuild Gaza as soon as a ceasefire is reached. The first priority is to stop hostilities and restore the flow of humanitarian aid to citizens. ” He added that the plan is a realistic basis for the next day of war.

Common are the positions of the two states for developments in SyriaHe then said, asking for those who violate the religious rights of minorities. Finally, he referred to the importance of the government to the value of navigation and the energy sector where there are many projects of common interest, such as carbon dioxide transport and storage projects and common initiatives we could take.

“We feel that we are welcoming a real friend. It is important to be aligned in a troubled international environment. I congratulate my inauguration of the Egyptian Museum. We will be with you at this important moment for your country, “the prime minister concluded.

Sisi: Our strategic relationship with Greece is based on mutual respect and historical trust

In the warm words about Greece -Egypt relations, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al -Sisi spoke. The Egyptian president expressed his gratitude for the reception, noting that the meeting itself is proof of the excellent relationships between the two sides.

“We are determined to have this strategic relationship with Greece, based on mutual respect,” he said characteristically, stressing that this cooperation is not opportunistic but deep roots. In this context, he recalled the support of Greece in 2011, conveying – through the European Union – the positions of Egypt, which, he said, “proves how historical our relationships are.”

Al Sisi made a special reference to Monastery of St. Catherine to Sinainoting that he has been threatened in recent years, and has particularly stood the need to protect religious freedom and pluralism in Egypt. As he said, his government has emphasized the creation of places of worship for both Muslims and Christians, pointing out the need for coexistence and respect for religious communities.

Referring to the Declaration signed with Greece, he underlined that it further consolidates the links of the two countries and lays the foundation for cooperation in a number of critical areas. Among them, it stood out the energy and in particular the cooperation of gas, the transnational agreement on the employment of Egyptian land workers in Greece, as well as the coordinated action to tackle terrorism and illegal immigration.

As far as geopolitical instability is concerned in its area Middle Eastthe Egyptian president appeared particularly anxious about the situation in the Gaza Strip. He called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the stay of the civilians in their homes, rejecting any displacement. “We have to respect international law,” he said, adding that the only viable solution is the solution of the two states and the rebuilding of Gaza with international guarantees.

Greece and Egypt are about to sign Common Declaration for Strategic Cooperationas the two countries seek to reinforce their political coordination to maintain stability in East MediterraneanThe president of Egypt said earlier.

“Our relationships are traditional and historical. There is a basis to reinforce this relationship, “Sisi said during a meeting with the President of the Republic, Constantine Tasoula. “Today we will have the opportunity to sign a joint declaration for a strategic cooperation.”

As stated in ReutersAccording to a Greek government official, the two leaders are expected to reassess their common position on the need to respect his international law for the promotion of peace In a troubled area, amidst the ongoing war on the Gauze.

OR migration It is also expected to be high on the agenda of bilateral talks, as European governments have long been worried about the danger destabilization to Egypt, A country of 106 million residents, where financial difficulties have led more and more to the decision to emigrate.

Egypt has virtually interrupted the flow of irregular migration from its northern coasts from 2016however Crete and her Gavdou have recorded a sharp increase in immigrant arrivals, mainly from Afghanistan and Egypt.

OR European Union announced last year a EUR 7.4 billion funding package and upgrading relationships with Egypt, in the context of effort Restriction of migratory flows to Europe. Last month, its executive power incorporated Egypt, despite criticism of the human rights issue, on the list of “safe countries“, To which the asylum applicants can be returned.

Meeting al -Sisi with Tasula

Earlier Al Sisi also had a meeting with the President of the Republic, Constantine Tasoulawho welcomed him to the Presidential Palace

During the meeting, Mr Tasoulas said that “our long -standing relationship, which has passed the centuries -old test, is characterized by the relations of friendship and cooperation. These good neighborly relationships are ultimately all the essence of the principles and forecasts of UN Charterin which for decades, but even today, humanity has invested too much hopes. However, this exemplary relationship, Mr President, still has room for improvement. “

“Looking at the representatives of the two countries’ governments and realizing the next meetings you will have at the Prime Minister’s Office, I think this margin of improvement is a wide range, great themes such as security, such as energy, education, culture, and it is worth it,

“Another issue worth mentioning, Mr President, is the situation in our wider region, in our neighborhood, which inspires many concerns and that I know that your country’s interest, which has a great influence on its area. Mediterraneanto Middle East, to Africainterested in the dominance of peace, is interested in returning the hostages, as is our country. It is interested in the ceasefire and all these assumptions, all these parameters are worth including in an exchange of views to see how our countries, which are committed to the principles of peaceful dialogue and peaceful coexistence, will be able to contribute to this direction in our wider region. “

For his part, Al Sisi thanked his Greek counterpart for the reception and reminded that he was visiting Greece for the 5th time, proof of the good relationship between the two countries.

“I want to allow me to address a warm greeting to the friend Greek people,” the Egyptian president said, and then said that Egypt is in favor of peace and the coordination of Egypt-Greece aims at the stability of the region, while noting that there is room for improvement.

Still referred to the subject of Gauze saying that efforts are being made to cease fire and return the hostages, while for the migration he said there are 9 million people who want to leave Gaza and go to Egypt. “We want the Palestinians to stay in the Gaza Strip,” he said in this context.

Since 2016, Egypt has not been a bridge for immigrants to leave Europe, Mr al -Sisi also noted, adding: “This is a moral and humanitarian issue for us. We do not want to create a problem for our European partners »

“We are saying to deal with illegal immigration, but coordination also needs legal immigration,” the Egyptian president continued.

“And us and Greece are interested in stability,” he concluded.