Austrian Parliamentary Speaker Wolfgang Sobotka said his country is looking forward to benefiting from Egypt's experience in reforming the religious discourse, given the high rate of Muslims in Austria.

Sobotkapraised Egypt's effective role in combating terrorism, extremism, and illegal migration, adding that Egypt is a pillar of stability in the Middle East and a beacon for moderate Islam, being home to the Al-Azhar, the most prestigious seat of Islamic learning. He called on the international community to stand together to eliminate these phenomena.

Sobotka's remarks came during his meeting with Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Monday in the presence of the Austrian ambassador to Cairo and Egypt's Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal, a statement by the Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady read.
The meeting tackled the latest developments in the Middle East, Rady said, adding that both sides agreed on the significance of abiding by the outcomes of the Berlin Conference to reach a comprehensive political settlement and putting a limit to illegitimate foreign interferences.

It also touched upon the Egyptian vision for combating terrorism and extremism which is not restricted to the security and military aspects only but extends to achieving development and providing the neediest people with the elements of a decent life.

El-Sisi reviewed the efforts to deal with this cross-border phenomenon by consolidating the culture of accepting the other, freedom of belief and citizenship.

He underlined the importance of the proper understanding of religion, rectifying the wrong ideas and confronting "the systematic exploitation of these ideas that aim at achieving political goals."

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