Al-Sisi affirms depth of Egypt-US ties, praises counterterrorism cooperation

Egyptian President holds high-level meetings, including with EBRD Head Odile Renaud-Basso

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi affirmed, on Wednesday, the depth of the strategic relationships between Egypt and the US, and the counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.
Al-Sisi said during his meeting with Ronald Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, that such cooperation is of great importance in light of the crises threatening the security and stability of the entire region.
It is particularly important in the context of combating terrorism and extremist ideologies, with the cooperation serving to achieve security and stability in the region. The meeting between the President and Lauder was also attended by Egypt's General Intelligence Service (GIS) chief Abbas Kamel.
During the meeting, Al-Sisi asserted that reaching a Palestinian reconciliation between the two long-time rivals, Hamas and Fatah, and returning the legislative authority to take its responsibility in the Gaza Strip, will boost the peace process in the Middle East.
He also asserted the importance of continuing negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Bassam Rady, Spokesperson for the Presidency, stated that the meeting dealt with reviewing issues that form part of the Egyptian-US relations. It included discussions on the Middle East peace process, and a number of issues related to combating extremist ideology.
The President affirmed the depth of the strategic relations between Egypt and the US, "which are of great importance in light of the crises threatening the security and stability of the entire region especially in the context of combating terrorism and extremist ideologies, in order to achieve security and stability in the region", a presidency statement said.
The statement added that Lauder praised the relations between Egypt and the US, and expressed appreciation for Egypt's pivotal role as a pillar of security and stability in the Middle East and Africa. He referred to Egypt's efforts to address the threat of terrorism.
Rady added that the meeting touched on the latest developments in the Middle East peace process. This aims to preserve the security and stability of the Palestinian people and improve the humanitarian, living, and economic conditions in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Al-Sisi also met with Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The meeting took place in the presence of Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat.
Al-Sisi congratulated Renaud-Basso on her election as the first woman to hold the position of EBRD President. He expressed Egypt's appreciation for the distinguished relations with the bank, according to a statement.
The President also expressed Egypt's aspiration to continue the process of fruitful cooperation with the EBRD, in support of Egypt's goals and development priorities. This is through the new strategy for cooperation between Egypt and the bank for the next five years.
It comes in light of the comprehensive and sustainable development process being implemented in Egypt on the economic and social levels.
Renaud-Basso affirmed her keenness to make Egypt her first point of call in her tour in the region. She also expressed the bank's pride in the strong and fruitful cooperation relations with Egypt and its various financial institutions, and praised Egypt's success in implementing its ambitious economic reform programme.
She said, "Egypt was one of the few countries that did not plunge into recession last year due to the coronavirus pandemic."
"Egypt was hit hard. The EBRD is committed to supporting the country in these challenging times to help overcome the economic setbacks and to continue delivering on reforms in order to achieve a sound, sustainable and inclusive recovery," she added.
Rady added that the meeting witnessed discussion of ways to enhance cooperation with the EBRD, and increase its contribution to financing projects that are implemented in Egypt.
The meeting also discussed strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the EBRD in Africa, within the framework of efforts to strengthen economic, political and development cooperation at the continental level.