By Ashraf Sadek: CAIRO, June 5, 2018 - PRESIDENT Abdel Fattah El Sisi Tuesday highlighted the key role of Egyptian diplomacy in building balanced relations with all countries and cementing ties between Cairo and world powers. President Sisi described the Egyptian diplomacy as the first defence line and safety net for protecting national interests and a mirror that reflects Egypt's civilised image abroad. President Sisi made these statements during his meeting with the new ambassadors, who had been nominated to head Egyptian missions abroad, the presidency spokesman said. During the meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, President Sisi expressed full confidence in the ambassadors' abilities and competence in representing Egypt abroad in such a manner that manifested the glory of Egyptian history as well as the Egyptians' aspiration for a better future, Ambassador Bassam Radi said. The Egyptian foreign policy had been based on a set of principles that aimed at building balanced relations between Egypt and all countries, President Sisi told the diplomats. "It also aimed at cementing ties between Cairo and world powers while maintaining its independent decision-making process and continuing the Egyptian active role in the region," President Sisi said. President Sisi directed the ambassadors to work on unifying efforts of the international community members against terrorism while trying to find political settlements to the ongoing regional crises in order to restore security and stability to the Middle East and put an end to the human sufferings of the people in some of conflict-hit countries in the region. Ambassador Radi said that the president had also directed the envoys to relay the true picture of Egypt to the peoples and governments of the countries in which they would be assigned. President Sisi directed the ambassadors to explain the economic challenges that had been encountering Egypt for many decades and the current efforts that were being exerted by the Cairo government to overcome them through launching mega-development projects, adopting a set of economic reforms, and attracting foreign investments, Ambassador Radi said in his roundup of the meeting, which was also attended by the Acting Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel. President Sisi demanded the ambassadors to find innovative solutions to Egypt's problems saying that those solutions should be realistic and compatible with the present conditions of Egypt and its development needs, Ambassador Radi said. He said that the president highlighted the role of the Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad and asked the ambassadors to pay extra care to the members of the Egyptian communities in the countries, where they would be located. President Sisi also emphasised the necessity of upgrading the processes of selecting members of the diplomatic corps in order to enhance the performance of diplomats and ensure that highly qualified persons had been chosen for representing Egypt and its people abroad.
