Europe > Southern Europe > Cyprus > Sisi Meets Greek PM Ahead of Cairo Tripartite Summit

Cyprus: Sisi Meets Greek PM Ahead of Cairo Tripartite Summit

2014/11/09

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted his interest in strengthening bilateral relations with Greece, particularly in the economic field, during his conference with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Saturday.

Sisi is conference with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades and Samaras as part of a tripartite summit for the leaders of the three nations to discuss cooperation in all areas and combating terrorism, the Egyptian presidency said in statement on Friday.

The talks will be followed by a joint press conference scheduled at 12 p.m., the statement added.

Sisi said Egypt is looking forward for its European friends' support for the economy, calling on them to contribute with direct investments in the country, a presidential statement read. He as well invited them to take part in Egypt's coming economic conference.

Egypt's Planning Minister Ashraf al-Arabi announced the country will hold a conference, entitled the Egyptian Economic Summit, in February to attract foreign companies, donor and international organisations.

Sisi expressed Egypt's keenness on Greece's support to Egypt's trade and investment sectors. Greece is the fifth major European investor in Egypt.

The Egyptian president as well stressed the importance of cooperation in fighting terrorism and achieving security and stability in the Mediterranean region.

Sisi specifically addressed the situation in Libya as a priority. He said that all regional parties have agreed to suspend all forms of "fueling the conflict", funding "terrorism" or supporting extremist movements.

Militant fighting in Libya has recently intensified in measures unprecedented since the overthrow of late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Army general Khalifa Haftar declared war on Islamist forces within Libya since May.

In an interview with Reuters in May, Sisi referred to Libya as a "security threat" Egypt faces, particularly in regards to combating terrorism.The tripartite summit is scheduled to discuss border demarcation.

On October 29, the governments of Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, reportedly urged Turkey to quit trying to chart gas deposits in areas of the east Mediterranean claimed by Cyprus, saying the work was illegal.

In an interview with national-run news agency MENA, Cypriot President Anastasiades pointed out that Egypt and Cyprus have by presently signed a border demarcation agreement last December during Anastasiades' initial visit to Egypt.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus before met on October 29 in Nicosia to prepare for a summit between the three nations this month, at the same time as they as well denounced the actions of Turkey.

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