Speaker of Egypt's House of Representatives Hanafi Gibali and Speaker of Russia's Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko during their meeting in Vienna, Austria on Wednesday 8 September, 2021
Hanafy Gebaly, the speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives, and Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, met on Wednesday to discuss relations between the two countries.
The meeting came on the sidelines of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, which is being held in Vienna, Austria, between 5 and 8 September.
According to an official statement, Gebaly praised how the relations between Egypt and Russia have seen remarkable growth in recent years.
“This reflects the keenness of the leadership of the two countries to push forward the strategic partnership between them to new heights and in a way that also reflects their international and regional influence and weight,” said Gebaly, revealing that “the strategic partnership agreement between Egypt and Russia will go into effect early next year and that this means that relations between the two countries will get closer in the political, economic, and cultural fields.”
Gebaly also referred to the fact that the two countries are currently involved in a number of joint projects being implemented in Egypt.
“We have the Dabaa Nuclear Plant west of Alexandria and the Russian Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Zone, both of which are still under construction,” said Gebaly, also praising Russia for deciding to resume direct charter flights between Russian cities and Egypt’s two Red Sea resort cities of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada last month.
“The resumption of these flights reflects the current stability and security in Egypt and Russia’s interests in forging closer relations with Egypt in all fields,” said Gebaly.
The Egyptian parliamentary speaker and his Russian counterpart also reviewed the current negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Gebaly emphasised that Egypt will never compromise its share of the Nile River’s water, which is a right that does not negatively affect the right of other states to achieve sustainable development.
From her side, Matviyenko said Russia firmly believes in Egypt’s international influence and its pioneering role and weight in the region.
“Our meeting today reflects the strategic nature of the current relations between Egypt and Russia,” said Matviyenko, adding that “Russia fully supports Egypt’s position concerning the GERD negotiations because it aims to preserve the right of the Egyptian people in the Nile’s waters.”
Matviyenko also voiced support for pushing parliamentary relations between Egypt and Russia forward as part of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
“I am sure that the strategic partnership between the two countries, which will go into effect in 2022, will be a big success and of mutual benefit to the two peoples.”
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