Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini in Cairo on Tuesday, the state owned MENA agency reported.
According to presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef, Mogherini said that her visit aims to enhance the Egyptian-European relationship through constructive dialogue between Egypt and the EU institutions.
Mogherini said that her two-day visit to Cairo provides a chance to exchange visions over issues of common interest on the regional level, noting Egypt’s vital regional role and its tireless efforts to resolve regional issues is contributing to achieving security and stability in the region.
Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry and the head of EU’s delegation to Egypt James Moran attended the meeting.
The EU foreign policy chief congratulated Egypt for securing a UN Security Council seat in 2016-2017, and expressed her anticipation of continued coordination on different issues in the council.
El-Sisi said that Egypt is committed to providing EU officials with information on regional developments while clarifying Egypt’s vision towards them, including the most important drawbacks not only for the countries witnessing conflicts, but also for their neighbours.
According to the Egyptian presidency, talks about the Libyan crisis comprised a major part of the meeting, where Mogherini thanked El-Sisi for Egypt’s efforts in achieving stability in Libya, especially in communicating with the conflicting sides and encouraging them to establish a “national unity” government.
El-Sisi stressed the importance of supporting Libya’s national army by lifting the imposed arms embargo, helping the army enforce security, order and combat terrorism in Libya.
Mogherini has been a supporter of Egypt’s efforts to combat Sinai-based Islamist militants since assuming office in November last year, but has also been a vocal critic of the mass death sentences handed out to Islamists in criminal cases, including the case of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
She described the sentences and court procedures as “in breach of Egypt’s obligations under international law” after Morsi’s death sentence was upheld pending further appeal in June in a trial related to a jail break and murder of prison officers during the 18-day uprising that ousted autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
source: Ahram Online
