"If demonstrations can build the Egyptian state, I am ready to turn to the streets along with other citizens to do so," President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said on Sunday. “However, we build states with hard work, patience, and devotion,” Al-Sisi added during his speech on the occasion of the inauguration of four new tunnels in the two cities of Ismailia and Port Said, as well as other megaprojects. “Egyptians would never allow anyone to violate their rights,” Al-Sisi said. “As they changed [situations] in 25th January and 30 June, they could do so again.” However, Al-Sisi stressed, “I have nothing to fear. This is my homeland and I will protect it. We will never fail in that." He added that Egyptians have the right to live decently and to enjoy better health care and education for themselves and their children. Therefore, Al-Sisi emphasised the significance of stability and security in order to build the state and increase opportunities for investments. Regarding megaprojects, Al-Sisi pointed out that the role of the Egyptian armed forces is only an administrative and supervisory mantle, noting that projects are carried out by civil companies. The new tunnels, crossing the Suez Canal, are the biggest of their kind in Egypt. They were all executed by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority and other local companies. Al-Sisi said the military has other critical roles to protect the country and fight terrorism inside Sinai, the Western desert and its borders. The president pledged to continue developing projects in Sinai, noting that the state's efforts there are unprecedented. Al-Sisi also revealed that the cost of national projects which are under process until June 30, 2020, is EGP 800bn. On the other hand, Al-Sisi asserted that the country not only comprehensively combats extremism and terrorism but also carries out a cultural, development, intellectual and even religious struggle. The newly inaugurated tunnels in the cities of Ismailia and Port Said, as well as other several pontoon bridges will connect Sinai with the Nile Delta, facilitating the movement of people and goods, and easing the lives of citizens in this region. The total cost of establishing the tunnels is around EGP 12bn. About 3,000 Egyptian engineers and workers have taken part in building the tunnels since 2016.
