Egypt's Sisi, Germany's Merkel discuss radicalism, Libya, GERD
Ahram Online , Monday 2 Nov 2020
The president asserted the importance of working collectively to fight hate and radical discourse


Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed on Monday fighting radicalism and supporting counterterrorism in the light of the recent events in several European countries, the Egyptian presidency said.

In a teleconference call, the German chancellor expressed Europe’s interest in cooperating with Egypt’s religious institutions, which serve as a beacon of moderate Islam. Merkel also praised the effective, objective and wise efforts by President El-Sisi to protect religious freedom and promote coexistence between religions.

The president also asserted the importance of working collectively to fight hate and radical discourse, and that this should involve different religious institutions to enforce the principles of peace and coexistence and use the language of dialogue and mutual respect instead of intolerance.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments concerning Libya, where El-Sisi reasserted Egypt’s positions of supporting implementing the outcomes of the Berlin Conference and the Cairo Declaration, especially with regards to emptying Libya of foreign fighters and ending illegal foreign interventions.

The president also stressed the necessity of enforcing the ceasefire in the country.

Merkel praised Egypt’s vital role in attempting to settle the Libyan crisis as well as the Egyptian president’s personal efforts on that issue, adding that the two countries would continue to coordinate on this important matter.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments with regards to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, where the German Chancellor expressed her wish to see a solution that achieves the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia as soon as possible.

El-Sisi said that Egypt is working to reach a fair, complete, balanced and legally binding deal concerning the rules for filling and operating the dam.

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