Cairo - President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi praised the Egyptian people's awareness and understanding of decisions taken by the government in the framework of the economic reform program, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said. During an Iftar banquet of the Egyptian family, the president said the country has no other option but taking steps to reform economy, saying he believes in the people's ability to afford measures adopted by the government for that purpose, the spokesman said. The banquet was attended by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Grand Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb, Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and a group of lawmakers and public figures. The president said he cannot relinquish any Egyptian land, following outcry over the parliament's approval of a maritime demarcation deal between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which places two Red Sea islands in the Saudi waters. "Nations cannot be sold or bought, and countries should be governed by law," Sisi said.
