El-Sisi warns against political, economic repercussions of Israeli regional assaults at Cairo's D-8 Summit

Ahram Online , Thursday 19 Dec 2024

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi warned of the potential political and economic dire consequences of ongoing developments in Syria, including Israeli assaults on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, during his speech at the 11th Summit of the Organization of Eight Developing Countries (D-8) on Thursday in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital.

 sisi speech
A still photo of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi addressing the 11th D-8 Summit held in the New Administrative Capital on Thursday.

 

Egypt currently holds the chairmanship of the D-8 organization, whose state members are Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. 

The leaders of these major Muslim developing countries are attending the meeting, along with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov.

In his opening remarks, President El-Sisi emphasized that the D-8 Summit is taking place at a time when the world, particularly the Middle East, is facing unprecedented challenges and crises.

He pointed out that conflicts and wars are at the forefront of these challenges, alongside economic protectionism, trade barriers, and double standards.

A key example of this, he noted, is the ongoing Israeli war against the Palestinian people, which he described as "a challenge to international legitimacy resolutions."

The president also highlighted the significant risk of the war spreading to other countries, as seen with Lebanon and Syria.

In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples, a special session will be held during the summit to discuss the situation in both countries.

Moreover, El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s commitment "to supporting and developing small and medium-sized enterprises" as part of the country's broader effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He also discussed the substantial challenges that developing countries face, which hinder their ability to fulfil their people's prosperity and development aspirations.

He added that these challenges, including a lack of funding, rising debt, widening digital and knowledge gaps, and increasing poverty, hunger, and unemployment — particularly among young people — make it extremely difficult for developing countries to achieve sustainable progress and growth.

El-Sisi stressed the need for collective efforts to enhance cooperation and implement joint projects across various sectors to address these intertwined challenges.

These efforts should cover sectors like communications, information technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence applications, agriculture, manufacturing industries, renewable energy, especially green hydrogen, and supporting small and medium enterprises.

Recognizing the different economic levels of the D-8 member countries, El-Sisi also affirmed the importance of exchanging successful experiences to achieve sustainable development goals.

Sharing lessons
 

Furthermore, the president reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to share its successful experiences, particularly in its “Decent Life” and “Takaful and Karama” initiatives and its infrastructure and urban development projects.

El-Sisi also announced the launch of four new initiatives to foster greater cooperation within the organization:

1- A "Network for Directors of Diplomatic Institutes and Academies" to strengthen cooperation and build the diplomatic capacities of member states to address contemporary issues;

2- An online competition for pre-university students in member countries in fields such as science, engineering, and applied technologies;

3- A "Network for Cooperation Among Economic Think Tanks" in member states to exchange ideas and strategies to boost economic cooperation, investment, and trade among D-8 countries;

4- Regular meetings for health ministers from member states, with Egypt hosting the first meeting in 2025 to explore how advanced technologies and scientific applications can be utilized to improve the health sector.

Additionally, President El-Sisi announced that Egypt would ratify the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement, emphasizing the importance of boosting intra-organizational trade.

Third-largest economic bloc
 

 

During his speech, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the summit "focuses on the strength of cooperation for all of us, and we must admit that the D-8 countries are important and have potential and capability because they represent the third-largest economy in the world."

He clarified that there are also large resources to have access means for all countries around India and the Atlantic Ocean; so all countries contribute to these benefits to achieve a green economy.

Subianto said the D-8 countries' trade volume reached $4.8 billion in 2023.  

Besides, the group will have cooperation of about $600 million, he added.

The D-8 Summit, he emphasized, must be an inclusive organization as it focuses on the Global South. “Therefore, we must continue to advocate all the values we have under the umbrella of international laws,” Subianto said.   

He explained that this should occur in an environment that supports cooperation and enhances bilateral relations between the summit’s member states.  

He stressed that comprehensive empowerment must also be achieved to realize cooperation among the member states and achieve the public good. “We must work together to unite and be one,” he said.   

“We must renounce differences and look towards the interests of our peoples. With this support, cooperation, solidarity, and integration among us, we will be strong; however, without it, we will be weak, and if weak, we will perish,” Subianto continued.  

The Indonesian leader stated that he and his country are “fully committed” to supporting the D-8 Summit and its prominent role, calling on more participants to join it.   

“There must be an enhancement of this unity and a strengthening of this highly important organization," the Indonesian president clarified.   

“Let us work for the future and benefit from the lessons learned,” he demanded.   

In addition, Subianto emphasized the importance of empowering the Islamic community and making it a “prosperous society confronting all forms of severe poverty.”   

Moreover, he called for learning from the current geopolitical tensions. “Through our unity and overcoming challenges, we will continue to move forward,” he asserted.  

Subianto also expressed his unlimited support for Palestine: “The most important thing is how to support Palestine.”  

Condemning Israel

For his part, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, marking the first visit by an Iranian president to Egypt in over a decade, addressed regional tensions, particularly the Israeli war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

He condemned Israel's large-scale attacks, the brutal killings of civilians, and the bloodshed, adding that these actions have revealed new dimensions of Israel's unlawful goals to spread instability in the region.

"The merciless killing of civilians and bloodshed of women and children, terror, and insecurity revealed new dimensions of the Israeli regime's illegitimate goals in spreading insecurity. Gaza is under genocide, and starvation is used as a tool of war," he said.

President Pezeshkian also praised the summit's significance under Egypt’s leadership, emphasizing the need for increased cooperation among member states to achieve shared interests.

"I want more cooperation between the countries of the organization to achieve the interests of our people," he added.

"We are working to accelerate trade partnerships among member states and overcome disputes," Pezeshkian stressed.

Furthermore, the Iranian president outlined several initiatives to support investment, empower youth, and promote small businesses, as well as plans to support technology, the green economy, and entrepreneurship.

He also underscored the importance of keeping pace with global developments in various sectors.

"We have plans to support investment, empower the youth, and support small projects; we have ideas to support technology, green economy, and entrepreneurship," he noted, adding that Egypt, with its resources, plays a vital role in these efforts.

Threat of Israel’s carnage

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted that the D-8 is a “very important platform for cooperation,” emphasizing that the summit is being held at a “very critical juncture.”

PM Sharif urged investment in youth, describing them and the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the “key drivers of economic development in any society.”

“By investing in both, we can build inclusive and robust economies that are ready for the global challenges of today and tomorrow,” he said. 

“For Pakistan, investing in youth and supporting SMEs is crucial for our socioeconomic development and progress. With over 60% of our population under the age of 30, we possess a fountain of potential for innovation and growth,” he added.

PM Sharif also touched on the Israeli war on Gaza. “Ceasefire in Gaza is so important that without that, peace, prosperity and progress not only in the region but globally will not be possible,” he affirmed.

“It is equally important, if not more, to discuss the situation in Gaza, the ceasefire in Lebanon, and the potential threat of Israel’s carnage in this area and the world over,” he stressed.

 

Palestine, Lebanon and Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that he wanted to address the situation unfolding in Palestine and Lebanon, emphasizing that these developments, along with the situation in Syria, are being closely monitored.

During his speech, Erdogan said, “We have given full priority to the Syrian people, as they need solidarity and the reconstruction of their state, along with a rapid recovery plan from the destruction their country has suffered.”

“Our aspirations are for Syria to be rebuilt, for Syria to respect all ethnic and religious differences within it, for its people to live and coexist in peace and stability, and for terrorism to be uprooted from Syria once and for all,” he continued.

“Today, the whole world is witnessing many conflicts and numerous issues that destabilize security and stability,” the Turkish leader clarified. 

According to hime, The solutions do not lie solely in political solutions, but in economic solutions, especially in recovery from crises.

“Therefore, international organizations must keep pace with global developments. We hope that the decisions made at the summit will be promising and provide a comprehensive, strategic, and confident outlook for the future to recover from economic crises,” Erdogan said.

On youth empowerment, the Turkish president emphasized, “Supporting youth and small projects is of utmost importance for economic growth. Therefore, it is the duty of member states to adopt an inclusive approach and empower young people.”

Regarding youth demographics in developing nations, he noted, “Our society has a great advantage, as most of the population consists of young people, unlike Western countries, where the majority are elderly and seniors.”

Erdogan stressed the need for programs specifically designed to support small businesses, ensuring they benefit from all commercial initiatives provided by the state.

“This will allow for the sharing of best practices, especially since these programs will support and empower young people, as they are the fuel of the future,” he added.

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