Egypt, Iraq declare ideological response to combat terrorism

Both Egypt and Iraq have reiterated their opposing stance to terrorism, and have underlined the importance of a coordinated response to its destructive goals.
Following talks, Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi expressed his country's total support of visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi's efforts in encouraging national unity in the face of terrorism.
According to his spokesperson, both Al-Sisi and the Iraqi premier saw eye-to-eye on the need for a coordinated international response and comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism.
This would include "development and cultural aspects, namely rethinking religious discourse, raising education standards, encouraging moderation and peaceful coexistence and rejecting division and separation between different ethnicities and religious sects." Egypt's revered Sunni Islam academic establishment, Al-Azhar University, would work in tandem with various Iraqi religious organisations to bridge the gap between the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam, added the statement.
"It is important to combat radical movements which use religion as a cover, to make the youth more aware on the true nature of their religion and to close all internet websites that call to kill and discredit believers," said the Egyptian president.
Earlier, Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said that his country's view on Iraq is clear, and is focused on the sovereignty and unity of Iraqi land, and its rejection of the actions of Islamic State (ISIL) and other militant organisations.
As Egypt is set to host the upcoming Arab Summit, he added, in a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Al-Abadi, that this issue would receive much discussion at the talks due in March.
Discussions between the premiers also delved into economic cooperation, with Mahlab expressing keenness for Egyptian companies to contribute to "giant projects" as part of development efforts in Iraq.
Technical and security matters pertaining to a proposed oil and gas pipeline project, which will be shared by the two countries along with Jordan, will be later discussed during talks between the top oil officials of both nations, added the Egyptian premier.
For his part, the Iraqi prime minister said that both nations have been undermined by "fundamentalist ideology that is turning their people (within each country) against one another." He revealed the Iraqi government's new approach, or "strategy" as he called it, which aims at "openness," adding that this visit looks to create a "combined strategy on these anti-terrorism efforts."