The press this week followed Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir's visit to Egypt. The editorial of the daily Al-Ahram described Egyptian-Sudanese relations as sacred and historic and that the visit put it back on the right track. The statements by the two presidents reflect the special nature of bilateral relations, the editorial added. President Al-Sisi underlined the eternal brotherly relations that bind the two peoples who live along the Nile Valley. President Al-Bashir emphasised the importance of cooperation because Egyptian and Sudanese people are one. “A difficult task awaits both Egypt and Sudan especially ahead of the Arab summit. Arab crises have become chronic. The difficult situation and divisions in Syria, Libya and Yemen require coordination among Arab states. Besides, it is not a secret that Egypt, at present, is facing the most ferocious terrorist attacks in its history, a fact that requires cooperation between the two states to protect their common borders,” the edit said. Hazem Mounir wrote that the Egyptian-Sudanese relationship has always been very important on the regional level regardless of all the obstacles and problems it faces. Perhaps that fact has always prompted the leadership of both countries to transcend differences. “President Al-Sisi's meeting with his Sudanese counterpart is an embodiment of moments of awareness of the nature of bilateral relations and a refusal to bow to any pressure that encroaches on the fate of both states at a time when we all suffer from regional and international crises,” Mounir wrote in the daily Al-Watan. He expressed his belief that the agreements signed during the visit transcended general political issues to files directly related to the interests and needs of both countries. However, Mounir added, the Nile file is yet another test for both countries to find a joint strategy that manages to merge Ethiopia - the third party - in the framework of an understanding of the importance of the optimum use of Nile water. What happened during Al-Bashir's visit, he summed up, is a successful example of how to transform problems into ways of cooperation. Mahmoud Saadeddin noted that the main headline in most newspapers on Tuesday was ‘Al-Bashir in Cairo'. In fact, Saadeddin wrote, cutting through the phase of tense relations took us to a new diplomatic track that ended with a headline like 'Al-Bashir in Cairo'. It is an outcome that heralds rapprochement on important issues like the Nile water and the future of the Nile Basin states after building the Renaissance Dam. "Relations are back on track which prompted Al-Bashir to visit Egypt. But this visit is different because his agenda included taking part in the ‘Egyptian family' meeting," Saadeddin wrote in the daily Al-Youm Al-Sabei. The writer emphasised at the end of his article that ‘Al-Bashir in Cairo' was not the only headline used by the press. 'Al-Bashir and Al-Sisi attend Egyptian family meeting' was another headline added to the bunch by the press this week. By Rasha Mahdi, Al-Youm Al-Sabei Turkish occupation of Afrin in Syria
