Resolving Palestinian cause would build peace, increase confidence and cooperation: Sisi to US adviser

Ahram Online , Wednesday 11 May 2022

Resolving the Palestinian cause in accordance with international references would “impose a new reality and open wide horizons to building peace and extending bridges of confidence, cooperation, construction, and development throughout the Middle East,” Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi receives US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, 11 May 2022. Egyptian Presidency

Sullivan hailed Egypt’s extensive efforts to establish peace in the region, hailing the main Egyptian role in facilitating calm between the Palestinian and Israeli sides as well as the country’s initiative to reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

The president affirmed Egypt’s keenness to enhance its extended strategic partnership and intensify coordination with the US on all levels within the framework of the two countries’ interests.

Sullivan stressed Washington’s keenness to develop and expand the partnership with Cairo, especially amid the ongoing international and regional crises.

Discussing regional issues, El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering stance on the necessity to support countries that are hit by crises and to enhance their national institutions.

The meeting also discussed enhancing cooperation between Egypt and the US in countering terrorism and extremist thought, the spokesman said, adding that Sullivan hailed Egypt’s tireless efforts in this regard.

The president also discussed with the US delegation the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue.

El-Sisi affirmed the need for reaching a legally-binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam in a way that preserves Egypt’s water security and achieves the interests of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Sullivan conveyed the greetings of President Joe Biden to El-Sisi, the spokesman added. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service attended the meeting.

Sullivan visited Egypt last September, where he affirmed to El-Sisi the US administration's commitment to exerting efforts to ensure Egypt’s water security, adding that the US is working to preserve the water and development rights of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Egypt and the US marked in April the centennial of their diplomatic relations, which started in 1920.

National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, Director for North Africa at the NSC Josh Harris, Senior Adviser to the National Security Adviser Ariana Berengaut, and Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Cairo Nicole Champagne also attended the meeting.