Egypt’s Sisi hails ties with UAE during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed visit to Egypt
Egyptian president also welcomed the UAE's entry into the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum as an observer during talks with the crown prince in Cairo on Wednesday
Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said on Wednesday that talks between President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have witnessed a consensus on the need to continue joint confrontation against threats to the security and stability of the region.
The president and the crown prince agreed that such threats, which are posed by the interventions of external actors in the region’s affairs, aim to serve “the agendas of parties that do not want the good of the countries and peoples of the region,” according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidential spokesperson.
Bin Zayed has stressed the importance of continuing this mutual consultation and coordination to address the challenges and crises facing the two Arab nations, and standing up to interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries in a manner aimed at destabilizing the security of the region and its peoples.
El-Sisi has reiterated Egypt’s commitment to its firm stance towards Gulf security as an extension of Egyptian national security, and rejected any practices that seek to destabilize it, Rady said.
He has also praised in this context, Rady said, Egypt’s pivotal and firm role as a basic pillar for security and stability in the region.
El-Sisi received Bin Zayed on Wednesday at Cairo International Airport and held talks with the crown prince at El-Ittihadeya Presidential Palace.
El-Sisi has expressed his gratitude for meeting Bin Zayed again to continue mutual consultations and coordination on various issues of common concern, as well as issues of bilateral cooperation, within the framework of the historical and strategic relations between Egypt and the Emirates, said the statement.
The pillars of the existing Egyptian-Emirati historic relations, El-Sisi said, were laid by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to last for decades and grow stronger by a common sincere will within a framework of brotherhood, mutual respect, trust, understanding, and a common destiny.
“The recent years have proven the effectiveness of these relations in facing the threats that target the security of the region, the interests of its people, and the capabilities of its countries,” El-Sisi said.
In this context, the Egyptian president has praised the great and qualitative development in Egyptian-Emirati relations in the fields of politics, economics, security, military, and others.
El-Sisi has also hailed the remarkable growth in the rate of trade exchange between the two countries and the volume of investments, indicating a common eagerness to move forward towards further deepening and developing these relations.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince affirmed during the talks that his current visit to Egypt comes as a continuation of the distinguished relations between the two brotherly countries.
Bin Zayed stressed the importance of continuing the pace of periodic and mutual intense consultation and coordination between the two countries on regional issues of common concern.
The crown prince has moreover voiced his aspiration for his current visit, which is to add additional momentum to the solid and extensive ties that bind the two countries on the official and popular levels in a way that reflects the two countries’ commitment to enhancing the solid strategic alliance between them and strengthens the unity of Arab and Islamic ranks.
Rady added that the two leaders have discussed ways to enhance the various aspects of the countries’ bilateral relations, especially on the economic and investment levels, and the launch of more joint projects in light of the promising investment opportunities available to both sides to enhance integration between the two countries.
Bin Zayed, Rady said, has congratulated El-Sisi on the remarkable performance of the Egyptian economy and the great leaps Egypt has achieved in many fields during the past years which has garnered the praise of various international institutions.
Rady said their meeting has touched upon a number of the most prominent files on the regional arena, such as Syria, Yemen, Libya, the Palestinian issue, as well as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and Red Sea security.
The Egyptian president welcomed the UAE’s entry into the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) as an observer alongside the founding member states.
El-Sisi also highlighted the importance of the added value that the UAE would contribute to the forum’s activities by serving strategic interests and enhancing cooperation and partnership between the forum’s members.
The forum’s members are Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority.
The EMGF was formed in January 2019 to “create a regional gas market, optimise resource development, cut the cost of infrastructure, offer competitive prices, and improve trade ties.”
In September 2020, EMGF’s seven members signed the EMGF charter, establishing a vital platform that brings together gas producers, consumers, and transit states to boost a sustainable regional market for gas. The EMGF’s headquarters will be established in Cairo.
Egypt’s Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said at the time that turning the forum into an international governmental organization in the region gives momentum to establishing a body that aims to bolster cooperation and dialogue over natural gas.
According to the ministry, the EMGF will set “a shared vision and systematic and regulated dialogue over natural gas policies… to maximize the region’s resources.”
