Ismailia (Egypt) - Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi promoted on Thursday Air Defence Forces commander Ali Fahmy from Major General to Lt General, and commander of the Naval Forces Ahmed Said from Rear Admiral to Vice Admiral during the closing ceremony of the country's monthly youth conference in Ismailiya. Sisi gave a short speech warning that terrorism was a "regional and international threat that must be confronted on all levels", and repeated his admonition of countries that support terrorist organisations. He also announced that this year's annual youth conference will be held in October in South Sinai's Sharm El-Sheikh, where youth from around the globe are invited to attend and participate. The Ismailiya youth conference resulted in several recommendations for initiatives including declaring 2018 as the year for "disabled people," forming youth monitoring groups in state institutions, launching an initiative to beautify public squares and streets, and founding a high council for national databases. This is the third time Sisi has attended the monthly youth conference, which started in December. This month's youth conference sessions and workshops began on Wednesday and addressed issues including a recent surge in the price of foodstuffs, the government's efforts to improve the healthcare system, and sustainable energy development. The decision to hold the monthly youth conference was announced by the president in October during the first annual National Youth Conference. In January, the second regular youth conference was held in Aswan and tackled challenges facing Upper Egypt, including ways to develop the economy and tourism in the region as well as the social and political empowerment of the youth. Some 1,300 young people from Upper Egyptian governorates took part in the event.
