By Amira Elhamy and Yasmine Fouda
Last Sunday, following his visit, to UAE, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi started a four day visits to Kuwait and Bahrain. Egypt’s head of State was accompanied by a delegation of senior officials.
The visit’s first leg to Kuwait came as a significant step to consolidate bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Kuwait in various fields and deal with the challenges that the Arab region is currently facing, a statement by the Egyptian presidency noted.
During the official visit, talks between both leaders confirmed the strong relations between the two countries; they discussed ways to enhance it and serve the common interests. The meeting also included discussions on means to establish unity in the Arab region, and examined the various regional and international issues of common concern.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed his appreciation of the cooperation between the two countries. He also emphasized the importance of the Gulf’s security and stability, stating that Gulf security is part of Egypt’s national security. He clarified that Egypt will stand by Kuwait in face of any sort of regional threats.
As for Emir Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, he emphasized the vital role that Egypt is playing to address the various challenges that the Arab world is facing and how Egypt is striving to ensure security and stability in the region.
Both leaders, stressed the importance of facing terrorism, which is becoming a worldwide crisis; they further called for ending the region’s civil conflicts in a manner that safeguards welfare of the Arab region.
The senior level meeting held by the two Arab leaders was attended by the following Kuwaiti officials; Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; the Kuwaiti prime minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and his deputy; and foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Prior to leaving Kuwait, President El-Sisi met with Kuwaiti members of the Egyptian Kuwaiti Joint Economic Council, and commended their active role since their establishment in November. President El-Sisi also met with Abd Al Wahab Badr, General Director of the Kuwait Development Fund, who expressed the Fund’s keenness to finance Egypt’s Development Projects.
The Egyptian president’s visit to Kuwait was followed by another visit to Bahrain; where Egypt’s president was warmly received by King Hamad ben Eissa Al Khalifa, of Bahrain. During meetings held between both heads of the two Arab states, they strictly affirmed their rejection of any form of intervention in internal affairs of the Arab world, and examined means to address the challenges facing the region. The senior level talks examined means to develop ties between Egypt and Bahrain, as well as various issues of bilateral concern, and most importantly combating terrorism.
President El-Sisi of Egypt affirmed in Bahrain that what Egypt managed to achieve over the past few years on the level of consolidating security and stability was only manageable due to it’s people’s alertness and rejection of any external intervention in Egypt’s internal affairs.
He further confirmed that Egypt would not allow for any matter that would jeopardize security and stability of the Arab Gulf, clarifying that Gulf security is an integral part of Egypt’s security. Egypt’s president further expressed that he looks forward to enhancing bilateral ties between the two Arab states in all fields to achieve joint interests.
From his side, King Hamad ben Eissa commended Egypt’s core role in the region, confirming that Egypt exerts it’s utmost efforts to support GCC states, as well as the Arab world in general backed by it’s people and solid institutions.
King Hamad expressed his country’s appreciation of the contribution of the Egyptian community in Bahrain in achieving the country’s development goals. Both the Egyptian and Bahraini sides agreed during the held meetings to proceed with their efforts that target achieving a solid union between all Arab countries.
It is to be noted that Egypt’s President’s visit to Kuwait, came after his successful visit to UAE, last week, which most certainly played an important role in solidifying political and diplomatic ties with the Gulf
