CAIRO, June 24, 2018 (MENA) – An Egyptian delegation of the Defense Ministry participated in the 7th Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Defense of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) Member States that was held in Abuja, Nigeria, on June 20-22. The meeting discussed means of fostering cooperation in combating terrorism via exchanging expertise and support in defense and security fields. Assistant Defense Minister Major General Mohamed el Keshki gave a speech on behalf of Defense and Military Production Minister Mohamed Zaki in which he asserted Egypt's continuing support to the CEN-SAD member states and the Egyptian political leadership's keenness to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism and entrench security and stability in the region. During the meeting, the member states hailed Egypt's efforts aiming at establishing a regional CEN-SAD center to confront terrorism. They also thanked President Abdel Fattah El Sisi over the establishment of the center as well as granting 2,000 scholarships to military personnel to study and receive training in Egypt. The meeting also approved Abuja Announcement that underlined the importance of fostering security cooperation among member states to face all threats to the region. The meeting was attended by representatives of the US, France, China, Britain, Russia and Saudi Arabia as monitors in addition to officials and experts from seven international organizations including the UN, Arab League, EU and African Union. The CEN-SAD was established in February 1998 by six countries, but since then its membership has grown to 29. One of its main goals is to achieve economic unity through the implementation of the free movement of people and goods in order to make the area occupied by member states a free trade area.
