President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received an expanded, high-level delegation from the Democratic and Republican parties in the US Congress, including Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in addition to a number of officials and members of committees in the House of Representatives and Senate, in the presence of Mr. Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The official spokesman for the Presidency of the Republic, Counselor Ahmed Fahmy, stated that the meeting witnessed the confirmation of the strength and durability of the decades-old strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, and the importance that the two countries attach to strengthening their relations at all levels, official, parliamentary and popular, especially in light of the turbulent regional and international reality and what it produces. Escalating challenges and global crises in food, energy and financing, affecting many countries of the world.
An open dialogue between President El-Sisi and the US Congressional delegation
The Spokesman added that the meeting witnessed an open dialogue between the President and the leaders of the US Congress, which touched on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, especially on the economic level and to enhance the investments of American companies in Egypt, where the ongoing comprehensive development efforts in Egypt were praised, especially in terms of modernizing the infrastructure. Infrastructure and the construction of new cities, as well as in the sectors of oil, gas, renewable and green energy, and agricultural land reclamation. The discussion also dealt with Egypt’s efforts to combat terrorism and extremist ideology, promote human rights, and establish concepts and values of religious tolerance, a culture of coexistence, and principles of citizenship.
In terms of regional and international issues, many files were discussed, on top of which was the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its geopolitical and economic repercussions, and ways to enhance international peace and security, in addition to developments in the regional arena and the crises the region is going through, especially in Sudan, Libya and Syria, where agreement was reached. On the importance of speeding up political solutions to these crises, in a way that preserves the unity of states and preserves the integrity of their territories and the capabilities of their peoples, while emphasizing the importance of the positive and vital Egyptian role in this regard.
The meeting also touched on the developments of the current negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, where the President affirmed Egypt’s position regarding the commitment to reach a binding legal agreement on the filling and operation of the Renaissance Dam that takes into account the interests and concerns of the three countries.
The meeting also dealt with the developments of the Palestinian cause, as the American delegation praised Egypt’s pivotal role, at the historical and current levels, in laying the foundations for and strengthening peace in the Middle East. For his part, the President affirmed Egypt’s firm position in this regard, with the need to advance international efforts to reach a just and comprehensive solution. It guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state in accordance with the relevant references and resolutions of international legitimacy, which opens broad horizons for lasting peace, security, peaceful coexistence and prosperity for all peoples of the region.