TUNIS – Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli asserted appreciation of Tunisia’s fixed and principled stance toward the file of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and in support of Egypt’s water security.
Speaking at a news conference he held jointly with his Tunisian counterpart Najla Bouden at the end of Joint Higher Committee meetings, he cited Tunisian President Kais Saied’s remarks on considering Egypt’s water security as an inseparable part of the Arab region’s water security and call for adherence to international law and the Declaration of Principles signed in 2015.
Madbouli said according to MENA that his visit to Tunisia is a historical one at the personal level and a step that will help foster bilateral relations in various fields.
He also said that talks between the two sides took up many regional issues of mutual concern, including the latest Palestinian developments and the unwavering support to legitimate Palestinian rights and the two countries’ backing to an inter-Libyan dialogue away from foreign interference or dictations and the importance of assisting the national Libyan institutions to assume their responsibilities, unifying the national Libyan military establishment and driving foreign fighters and mercenaries out of Libyan soil to pave the way for holding elections to end the Libyan crisis and fulfill the aspirations of Libyan people to restore security and stability to their country.
The Egyptian premier said he had the pleasure to meet the Tunisian president and convey to him the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, voicing Egypt’s full support to the Tunisian leadership and to its efforts bring about prosperity and stability to Tunisia.
Madbouli said the relationship between both countries is witnessing a qualitative shift that began by the historic visit of the Tunisian president to Egypt in 2021.
He praised the cultural and artistic activities and events that have been organized so far within the framework of the Egyptian-Tunisian Cultural Year 2021-2022.
He pointed out to an agreement between the two sides to announce the year 2022-2023 as the Egyptian-Tunisian Economic Year, noting that the move would help boost bilateral trade exchange and joint investments.
He underlined the importance of cooperation in the fields green economy, new and renewable energy and green hydrogen and highlighted an agreement to launch a regular navigation line to ease trade movement between Egypt and Tunisia and spoke of Tunisia’s support to Egypt’s preparations to host the UN climate conference, COP27, in November as well as Egypt’s support to Tunisia’s efforts to host TICAD8 in August and the 18th summit of La Francophonie in November.
Prime Minister Madbouli and his Tunisian counterpart earlier in the day attended the signing ceremony of several documents that serve cooperation between the two countries at the conclusion of the meetings of the Joint Higher Committee.
The documents include memorandums of understanding to exchange experiences in the fields of international cooperation, meteorology and climate, advancement of the conditions of women, family and the elderly, participation in international fairs and markets, export development, construction, agriculture, information, communication and postal technology, and investment cooperation.
They also included a framework agreement in the field of education and scientific research.
