President El-Sisi Receives a Phone Call from President of France

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi today received a phone call from President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.

The Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency stated that the French President affirmed his country's pride in the extended and close ties it has with Egypt. He stressed keenness to strengthen those ties and praised Egypt’s prominent political leverage in the region, at the Arab, African and Mediterranean levels. As a result, joint cooperation was enhanced between the two countries so as to reach political settlements to the existing crises in the region, President Macron added.

For his part, President El-Sisi affirmed the distinguished strategic bilateral relations between Egypt and France. His Excellency also stressed Egypt's mutual keenness to promote the frameworks of bilateral cooperation at various levels between the two friendly countries, especially at the economic, investment, development, security and military levels.

The Spokesman added that both presidents discussed ways to enhance the frameworks of joint bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries in many fields, especially at the economic and military levels. They also discussed the activity of the French companies working in various development projects in Egypt.

Visions and views were exchanged on regional and international issues of common interest. In this respect, President El-Sisi touched on the latest developments of the Libyan issue and Egypt’s firm strategic position in this regard. In the same vein, His Excellency stressed Egypt’s existing efforts in supporting the new interim executive authority in Libya in various bilateral, regional and international forums and driving the process aimed to settle the issue at the military, political and economic levels.

In this respect, the President affirmed the necessity of evacuating Libya from mercenaries and undermining illegal foreign interference in the Libyan affairs, which contribute to fueling the crisis in order to help reach the election process in next December.

For his part, the French President praised Egypt’s vital role in resolving the Libyan crisis and the personal efforts of the President in this regard, which strengthened the political path to a solution of the Libyan issue. This reinforced Egypt's role as a basic pillar for security and stability in its regional environment and the Middle East. President Macron stressed France’s keenness to continue intensive cooperation and coordination between the two countries in this important file.

The two presidents also agreed on the importance of intensifying joint efforts to combat terrorism in the Sahel region, in light of the mutual keenness to support the countries of the region to restore security and stability and to achieve the desired development. The two presidents stressed the challenge the phenomenon of terrorism poses to regional security as a whole.

During the call, views were exchanged on the developments of the Renaissance Dam issue. The President affirmed that Egypt gives this issue the utmost attention within the framework of defending Egypt's historical rights in the Nile waters through reaching a comprehensive and legally binding agreement between the three countries regarding the rules of the filling and operation of the dam. The French President expressed his aspiration to reach a solution that serves the interests of all parties as soon as possible.