Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on Hungary to convey to the EU the “real challenges and achievements” that Egypt has experienced since the democratic transmission of power after the ouster of Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
At a televised joint press conference in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Mihaly Orban, who met with El-Sisi earlier on Friday, the heads of states underlined the strong ties and historic relations between the two countries.
The two leaders announced that they have signed a number of agreements in different fields that are related to railway transport, irrigation, tourism, counter-terrorism and projects that would bring together Egypt, Hungary, and unspecified African countries.
The Hungarian premier said his country has understood that there would be no stability in the Middle East without stability in Egypt.
“Many countries in Europe fear Islam, but Hungary is friendly to Islam,” he said.
El-Sisi thanked Hungary for “its positive support to Egypt during the transition to democracy”, saying that other countries have “totally ignored” the challenges that Egypt has faced during this phase in Sinai and on its Western borders.
Attacks on security forces and infrastructure by Islamist insurgents have become commonplace in much of Egypt, particularly in the restive Sinai peninsula, since the ouster of Islamist president Morsi in 2013.
Hundreds of police and military have since been killed in shootings and bombings. Civilians have also been killed in the violence.
Orban said that Hungary “is looking forward to more cooperation with Egypt in the military field to train soldiers and provide the country with more military techniques.”
The two leaders had discussed Libya, Syria and Iraq during their talks, and according to El-Sisi, both had similar thoughts on how to deal with these crises.
The Egyptian president said that various agreements will be signed between the two countries at the bilateral business forum that is scheduled to take place in Budapest later on Friday.
Source:Ahram online
