Egyptian, Greek leaders discuss boosting bilateral ties

President Abdel Fattah al Sisi held bilateral talks Thursday with visiting Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to discuss ways of promoting bilateral relations along with a raft of regional and international issues.

The talks were followed by a meeting in the presence of both countries' delegations, said spokesman for the presidency Alaa Yousef said.

President Sisi welcomed his Greek counterpart, congratulating him on assuming his post.

President Sisi praised ties between Egypt and Greece that date back to more than 4,000 years ago, calling for enhancing and developing bilateral ties in all fields.

The Greek president commended meeting with President Sisi, reiterating a pioneering role played by Egypt in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region.

Pavlopoulos underlined the importance of activating cooperation between both countries in order to overcome problems facing the region.

Greece is looking forward to enhance cooperation with Egypt in the field of Combating terrorism, he said, slamming a heinous crime committed by "Daesh" group against the innocent Egyptians in Libya.

Sisi, in turn, said that changes in the region are very dangerous and require concerted efforts by the international community to address them, particularly fighting against terrorism.

The terrorism should be confronted not only from the security perspective but also from social and economic ones, Sisi said.

Sisi praised a stance adopted by Greece and the European countries for the real situation in Egypt.
President Sisi pointed out that Egypt has various investment opportunities, welcoming further Greek investments to Egypt.

The inauguration of the New Suez Canal and the development of the canal region will facilitate the international navigation and provide great potential for investment, Sisi said.

President Sisi invited the Greek president to participate in the opening ceremony of the new waterway.

The Greek president, in turn, said that his country seeks to increase investments in Egypt and to enhance cooperation with Cairo in the fields of science, technology and cultural exchange.

President Sisi referred to the insurance dues of Egyptian workers at the Greek government, urging to pay them at the earliest opportunity.

Both leaders agreed to continue consultation over the demarcation of the maritime borders between both countries.
Pavlopoulos praised Egypt's stance regarding this issue.

Egypt's stance is difference from the those of other countries that seek to put obstacles and cause problems, he said.

Regarding the Libyan developments, Sisi and Pavlopoulos underlined the need to provide full support for the government, the elected parliament and the legitimate army and stop financing terrorists and extremists in Libya.

Concerning the Syrian crisis, they called for finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis, in a manner that maintain the territorial integrity of the Syrian state and bringing about security and stability to the Syrians.

President Sisi said that the Palestinian cause will remain the pivotal issue in the region, calling for providing guarantees for the Palestinians and Israel to resume negotiations between both sides.

The meeting tackled illegal immigration.

Sisi called on the international community to address this phenomenon.

Egypt hosts five million refugees, Sisi said, calling for more cooperation from the international community to provide their health and educational needs.