Sisi affirms keenness to boost Cairo-Washington strategic relations

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday received a delegation of the American Jewish Committee (AJA), under its President John Shapiro.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry took part in the meeting.

Presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said President Sisi affirmed his keenness to keep contacts with the spectrum of American society to clarify the reality of the situation in Egypt and the region, and to boost strategic ties linking Cairo and Washington to keep pace with challenges facing the Middle East at the present stage and ways to overcome them.

Sisi said terrorism represents a real threat, not only to Egypt or the Middle East but also to the entire international community.

He added that the international community shall develop a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism, including stopping the supply of terrorist groups with money, weapons and fighters.

Egypt is determined to continue its firm response to terrorism until uprooting it from the country, the president said.

He added that the US shall continue playing its role in the region to find solutions to the current crises, especially the peace negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Sisi called for providing international guarantees to encourage both sides to move forward in the path of reaching a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with international terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Achieving a just peace in Palestine will relieve the tension in the Middle East and create a new reality able to give hope to the peoples of the region to achieve security, stability and economic development, in addition to the elimination of one of the most important sources of attracting young people to terrorist and extremist groups, he added.

Members of the AJA delegation expressed appreciation for the important role played by Egypt in encouraging the Palestinian and Israeli sides to resume peace negotiations.

They also expressed aspiration for further development of Egypt-US relations to push it to new heights commensurating with the regional and international changes, and enabling the two countries to overcome the extraordinary challenges faced by the region.

Source: MENA