Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Wednesday "there is consensus" between Egypt and Greece to stand against regional threats.

 

El-Sisi's statement came during his speech at a press conference with the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis that followed the president's talks with his Greek counterpart Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

 

El-Sisi added it was agreed to deal decisively with the transfer of fighters and weapons to militias in Libya, and that violations in the Eastern Mediterranean region should be confronted.

 

The president reviewed Egypt's vision for a political solution in Libya and efforts to restore the role of state institutions and fill the power vacuum in the country which led to the presence of militias in Libya, threatening to turn it into a focal point of tensions in the region, extending to Europe.

 

He urged the international community to support the political settlement of the Libyan crisis based on the outcomes of the Berlin Conference and the Cairo Declaration.

 

Mitsotakis said foreign forces must withdraw from Libya to find a political solution to the crisis. 

 

El-Sisi clarified that "terrorism is a global phenomenon," and that it should not be linked to any religion, stressing the need to spread tolerance and acceptance of the other.

 

He affirmed the necessity of concerted efforts by the international community to besiege this scourge at all levels in order to consolidate the values of mutual respect and not to offend sacred religious symbols.

 

Mitsotakis concurred, praising Egypt’s comprehensive approach to promote the values of tolerance, coexistence, dialogue among civilisations and respect for religions.

 

"We are in war, peace, and development side by side. We are friendly countries," Mitsotakis said.

 

El-Sisi stressed Egypt's support of an urgent, comprehensive solution to the Cyprus crisis.

 

"We have renewed our support for the principle of a comprehensive and just solution to the Cyprus issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions," the president said.

 

Mitsotakis also praised the close bilateral relations between Egypt and Greece, stressing his country's keenness to enhance mutual cooperation in light of Egypt's pivotal role as a pillar of stability, security and peace in the regions of the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean and the African continent.

 

El-Sisi also praised, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency, the historical relations between Egypt and Greece.

 

He expressed Egypt's interest in bolstering bilateral coordination and political consultation to achieve the common interests of the two friendly peoples, especially on the political, military and energy fronts.