The Presidency
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met in Copenhagen with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, as part of the President’s state visit to Denmark.
The two sides held discussions with the participation of the delegations of the two countries. They also signed the strategic partnership declaration between Egypt and Denmark, and witnessed the signing of a number of MoUs between the two countries in a number of fields.
The President and the Danish prime minister held a press conference that touched on the outcome of the talks between the President and the prime minister of Denmark.
Following is the text of the President’s speech at the press conference:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”
Your Excellency Ms. Mette Frederiksen
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark,
Honorable attendees,
It is with great pleasure that I commence my tour to Northern European countries in this beautiful historic city of Copenhagen. This visit is the first of its kind since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries on the 1st of June, 1922.
I would seize the opportunity to commend the warm reception and generous hospitality I have received since my arrival in the Kingdom of Denmark. This demonstrates the genuine nature of this civilized nation and confirms a sincere desire to foster the partnership between Egypt and the Kingdom of Denmark. It also reflects a shared interest to strengthen the two sides’ fruitful collaboration, which is grounded in mutual respect and understanding for the benefit of both nations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
My meeting and extensive discussions with Her Excellency the Prime Minister, in the presence of our delegations, have resulted in a mutual understanding to elevate bilateral relations across an array of fields, encompassing political, economic, investment, and cultural affairs. This was demonstrated in the signing of the Joint Declaration to promote our relationship to a Strategic Partnership, the launch of the Egypt-Denmark Business Council, and the signing of several MoUs.
I agreed with Her Excellency, the Prime Minister, on the importance of implementing the key aspects of the Joint Declaration. This will serve to significantly advance cooperation between Egypt and the Kingdom of Denmark in a wide range of sectors. Those include primarily, maritime transport; energy and green transition; health and scientific research; investment; agriculture; tourism; Communication and Information technology; combating illegal migration and terrorism; and fighting poverty and desertification.
I would like to take this opportunity to express sincere appreciation for Denmark’s understanding of and support for Egypt’s efforts to preserve its water security, which represents an existential priority, given the severe water scarcity that Egypt faces.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Regional and international issues of mutual concern figured prominently in our discussions today, primarily the Palestinian issue. We focused on Egypt’s tireless efforts to secure an immediate and durable ceasefire and an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. I affirmed the crucial importance of concerted efforts to prevent the region from sliding into a broad-scale regional confrontation, reiterating the imperative of the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State, along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as a cornerstone for reinforcing security and stability in the region.
We also addressed the dire humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and emphasized the crucial need to ensure the unconditional, unfettered, secure and sustained access for humanitarian aid and relief. I reviewed Egypt’s unwavering efforts in this regard, which culminated in the convening on December 2nd of the “Cairo Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza “.
Our discussions also covered the developments in Lebanon. We welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement and underlined the need to build on this momentum to initiate a de-escalation process in the region through the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and empowering the Lebanese Armed Forces to extend their control over all Lebanese territory.
We also reviewed regional developments, primarily the situations in Syria and Sudan, the security of the Red Sea and the Ukrainian crisis. There was an alignment in views with regard to the imperative need for diplomatic solutions to these crises, affirming the respect for the states’ sovereignty, institutions and official apparatuses and the eradication of terrorism.
Your Excellency the Prime Minister
Once again, I would like to express sincere gratitude for extending this kind invitation to visit the friendly Kingdom of Denmark. I look forward to welcoming you to Egypt, which will contribute to further strengthening the longstanding friendship our peoples and countries share.
Thank you.
