The Presidency
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The meeting was attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense and Military Production, General Abdel Mageed Saqr, and Italy’s Ambassador to Egypt, Michele Quaroni.
The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the Italian minister conveyed the greetings of Italy’s prime minister to President El-Sisi, expressing her appreciation for the historical relations between the two countries. This was appreciated by the President, who noted the importance of further strengthening the momentum bilateral relations have gained.
The meeting addressed ways to enhance cooperation between Egypt and Italy in various fields, particularly military and security, to consolidate the strategic bilateral relations and to advance common interests amidst the challenges and tension currently facing the regional and international arenas.
The meeting also addressed developments in the Palestinian territories and Egypt’s efforts to reach a ceasefire. Both sides emphasized the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, immediate action to end the humanitarian suffering of the people in the Strip, and efforts to secure the release of hostages and captives, as well as the commencement of the reconstruction process.
There was emphasis on the rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land and the importance of implementing the two-state solution through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, being the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
The meeting also addressed ways to continue strengthening cooperation between Egypt and Italy in the field of migration and combating illegal migration. The Italian Defence Minister expressed his country’s appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Egyptian authorities in this regard, which have resulted in stopping the departure of any boats carrying illegal migrants from the Egyptian coast to Europe since 2016. This is in addition to ongoing coordination between the relevant authorities in both countries.
The meeting also reviewed developments pertinent to a number of crises in the Middle East. Both sides emphasized the need to support peace efforts and consolidate security and stability in the countries concerned, while preserving their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting confirmed the importance of Italy’s strategy for opening up to Africa, which seeks to enhance development and joint cooperation. This is in addition to exploring opportunities for Egypt to engage in implementing cooperation projects with the Italian side in this context.
