Solid relations PRESIDENT Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi met on Sunday with a US Congressional delegation headed by Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri. Al-Sisi commended efforts exerted by Rohrabacher, also founder of the Friends of Egypt Caucus in Congress, and other members of the delegation to enhance the strategic relationship between Egypt and the US. The president underscored the “solid, diverse and long-standing relations between the two countries over long decades” and emphasised that Egypt hopes to further advance cooperation with the US in the coming period, and promote coordination and consultation with the new American administration so as to give momentum and reinvigorate bilateral relations in various areas. Members of the delegation stressed the importance of Egyptian-American relations and expressed support for all endeavours aimed at strengthening the ties across the board, particularly under the new US administration. They added that they look forward to Al-Sisi's visit to Washington soon and reiterated that Egypt is a key partner of the US and acknowledged its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism. Al-Sisi reviewed Egypt's counter-terrorism efforts both at the security level and in development, cultural and intellectual dimensions, particularly rectifying the religious discourse and rejecting distorted foundations used by terrorist organisations to disseminate deviant thought. The Congressmen lauded the economic decisions adopted recently by Egypt as part of its economic reform programme, in addition to efforts exerted to enhance the concept of citizenship. They expressed optimism and confidence in the future of Egypt and in its ability to realise comprehensive development. The meeting tackled the latest regional developments and ways to address ongoing crises in the Middle East. Al-Sisi reiterated the importance of preserving the sovereignty, resources as well as the concept and entity of the nation state of countries mired in conflict. He also stressed the need to prevent the collapse of their institutions so as to be able to restore stability in the Middle East. Allam Imprisoned MUBARAK-era irrigation minister Mohamed Nasr Allam has been sentenced to seven years on corruption charges. Giza Criminal Court last week also sentenced to seven years in absentia the CEO of the Egyptian-Kuwaiti Company for Land Reclamation Ahmed Kora in the same case. The verdicts can be appealed. Allam was found guilty of illicit profiteering and using his post to allow the Egyptian-Kuwaiti company to use 26,000 feddans in Giza governorate the company had formally acquired for land reclamation and farming for real estate development. The prosecution said the violations by Allam and Kora cost the treasury LE37 billion. Allam served as irrigation minister under former president Hosni Mubarak from March 2009 to 30 January 2011. Investigations into the case date back to 2011 following Mubarak's ouster. British assistance BRITAIN's Ambassador to Egypt John Casson announced last week the signing of a £2 million British programme to assist Egypt in combating human trafficking, saying that while there are no “magical solutions” to the problem, the UK strongly supports Cairo's efforts. “Human trafficking costs the world €6 billion annually,” Casson said, praising a recent law approved by the Egyptian government which incriminates all parties involved in human trafficking. Casson said the law, signed by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in November 2016 amid a hike in the number of migrants leaving Egypt for Europe, underscored Egypt's political will to curb the phenomenon. Casson also praised Egypt's role in aiding immigrants and refugees and its assistance to neighbouring Libya which is the main point of departure for refugees and migrants travelling to Europe. The head of Egypt's National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Immigration (NCCPIM) Naela Gabr welcomed the announcement of the programme which is under the supervision of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Nearly 210,000 immigrants arrived in Europe across the Mediterranean between January and June 2016. Approximately 3,000 others drowned in the Mediterranean during the same period, according to the IOM.
