Staff report: CAIRO, June 28, 2018 - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has paid tribute to the persistent efforts that General Intelligence Service (GIS) staff exert in the light of the challenges facing Egypt in the present stage. At a meeting Thursday with the Head of the General Intelligence Service, Major-General Abbas Kamel, and GIS Deputy Head Nasser Fahmi, President Sisi also directed the GIS to maintain diligence and devotion in their efforts to protect Egypt and its national security against surrounding risks, the Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Bassam Radi, said. The meeting followed the swearing in, before President Sisi, of Gen Kamel as GIS Chairman and Fahmy as the service's Deputy Chairman. During the meeting, President Sisi lauded the persistent efforts exerted by GIS staff in the light of the challenges that the country is now facing as well as in view of the various developments that the region is witnessing and the effects of such challenges and developments on Egypt's national security, Spokesman Radi said in the statement.