Sisi holds talks with Anastasiades

The presidents of Cyprus and Egypt held a talking session earlier Wednesday before they allowed their delegations to join them for an expanded meeting to discuss means of boosting bilateral cooperation.

Egyptian Presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades first welcomed President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on his first visit to Cyprus.

This visit will have a political momentum that should be used to support bilateral relations at all levels, Anastasiades said.

Nicosia and Cairo should coordinate stances at international gatherings with the aim to achieve stability and security in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, Anastasiades told Sisi.

He voiced support for Egypt in its efforts to achieve economic progress and fight terrorism in Sinai and the whole region.

Anastasiades said he is looking forward to enhancing cooperation with Egypt, particularly in the fields of energy and tourism.

Sisi thanked Anastasiades for his support for Egypt at the EU, expecting that to last.

Egypt's policy and stance toward the Cypriot cause has never changed at regional or international gatherings, Sisi told his counterpart.

He was pleased with growing bilateral relations with Nicosia.

Sisi said his country is seeking to upgrade economic ties with the European country. Egypt, he added, is also eyeing further cooperation with Cyprus in the field of energy, natural gas in particular. Cairo would very much like to share Cyprus' know-how in the domains of renewable energy and aquaculture, as well as the project to develop the Suez Canal Corridor, the president further said.

He once again thanked the Cypriot president for personally showing up for the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC), which was held in the Red Sea Resort city of Sharm el Sheikh in March.

Anastasiades said his country would, likewise, love to boost economic cooperation with Egypt, which he called the biggest economy in the region. He particularly mentioned mega national projects that are currently being implemented in the Arab country.

Many Cypriot businessmen are interested in investing in Egypt, Anastasiades said, adding they have been encouraged by recent decisions by the Egyptian government to lure foreign investors, not to mention the restored security and stability.

Youssef said the meeting between Sisi and Anastasiades also took up means to legalize the conditions of Egyptian workers in Cyrpus. They talked about signing an agreement in this regard, the presidential spokesman added.

The two leaders also discussed regional issues of mutual concern, atop of which the situation in Libya and Syria.

Sisi arrived in Nicosia earlier Wednesday. He was received by Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and a number of Arab ambassadors to the European country.

Egypt's Ambassador in Nicosia Heba el Marasi and Embassy staff, as well as representatives of the Egyptian church, were also there.

A reception was held for Sisi at the presidential palace in Nicosia as well where he reviewed the guards of honor.

Accompanying Sisi on his visit are Petroleum Minister Sherif Ismail, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Investment Minister Ashraf Salman.