Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed the importance of the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) summit and the role played by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to build an institutional framework for cooperation between the G20 and Africa. The institutional framework aimed to promote investment in Africa and boost opportunities of economic development, Shoukry said in statements on Monday on the sidelines of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's visit to Germany. Positive steps had been taken over the CwA's previous two sessions, resulting in increasing G20 investments in several African countries, topped by Egypt, Shoukry pointed out. President El-Sisi will discuss bilateral relations with Merkel and hold meetings with German officials and companies wanting to invest in Egypt. El-Sisi's visit would have remarkable outcomes in light of the great development in the Egyptian-German ties over the past four years, the top diplomat noted, adding that the president was seeking to achieve educational development through cooperation with Germany. He pointed out that a number of agreements between Cairo and Berlin would be signed during the visit. Regarding the Libyan crisis, Shoukry said Germany, as a leading European country and a G20 member, could create a framework for implementing a comprehensive political agreement covering the Libyan issue's dimensions. The international community should develop a joint vision, but the Libyan parties had to shoulder the responsibility and formulate their future, supported by the international community and that was what Germany sought through the current talks, he added. Concerning the difference in the Egyptian and European visions on the armament of the Libyan army, the foreign minister pointed out that Egypt always focused on supporting Libya's national institutions which were the only ones capable of eradicating terrorism and maintaining the country's sovereignty. The minister affirmed that Egypt focused on African affairs whether it chaired the African Union or not. Source: MENA
