PM: Threats to national security confronted by vigilant army, police

CAIRO- Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli stressed on Monday that threats to Egypt’s national security are firmly addressed by vigilant Armed Forces men and by the unbreakable will of policemen.

Amid all the threats and challenges besetting our region, some people are still planning to destabilize Egypt and undermine the state, he said, stressing that “we fear no threat to our nation and we will never be threatened because we live in a country preserved by God and guarded by the best soldiers”.

Madbouli was addressing the House of Representatives about the renewal of the state of emergency in the country for three more months.

He started his address by greeting Speaker Hanafi Gebali and lawmakers on the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Egypt will remain always strong thanks to the strength and awareness of its youth and the knowledge and experience of its intellectuals and scientists, he added.

He expressed appreciation for the distinguished performance of the House of Representatives which is on constant contact with the government to better serve the Egyptian people.

Everyone is well aware of the efforts the country is exerting to achieve progress in all domains despite the difficult circumstances it is passing through in light of the outbreak of Covid 19 that caused the decline of growth rates, increase of unemployment rates and suspension of projects.

But thanks to the strength of the Egyptian people and the country’s wise leadership and national institutions, “we managed to survive and avoid collapsing,” he said, adding that Egypt is among the fewest countries that achieved positive growth rates last year in accordance with the testimony of many international institutions that expected a positive progress of the national economy next year.

In light of the critical conditions Egypt is passing through both at home and regionally speaking, the cabinet decided to announce the extension of a state of emergency across the nation for three months, beginning as of Sunday, April 25, 2021, Madbouli said.

He renewed the government’s commitment to ensure, while applying exceptional measures under the declared state of emergency, making a balance between protecting public freedoms and meeting requirements of national security.

The state of emergency has been in place in Egypt since it was first declared in April 2017 following terror attacks that targeted two churches in the northern part of the country.