Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received Greek Minister Minister of National Defence Nikolaos Dendias on Tuesday to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of defence and military co-operation.
The meeting was also attended by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production, General Mohamed Zaki, and the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt.
President Sisi said Egypt appreciates its special and historical relations with Greece, emphasising its commitment to further advancing the development of these relations in a manner that serves the interests of the two peoples and strengthens areas of joint cooperation at all levels, Presidency Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said.
The Greek Minister of National Defense conveyed the greetings and congratulations of Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to President El Sisi, noting that the results of the presidential elections demonstrated the Egyptian people’s confidence in their leadership. Minister Dendias lauded Egypt’s positive role and leverage in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, and valued the ongoing co-operation between Egypt and Greece, at both the bilateral level and within the framework of the Trilateral Co-operation Mechanism with Cyprus.
The meeting discussed ways to forge closer bilateral relations, notably in the fields of defence and military co-operation.
It also focused on regional developments, particularly the developments in the Palestinian territories. El Sisi reviewed Egypt’s efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and allow unfettered access of humanitarian aid to the Strip.
President Sisi stressed the importance of protecting the people of Gaza from the dire humanitarian situation they have been facing, and reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the Strip, in addition to coordinating and delivering assistance from the international community.
He also called for the intensification of international efforts to implement UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
President Sisi and the Greek Minister of National Defense agreed on the gravity of the situation, the need for de-escalation, and necessity to work toward finding political solutions for the current crisis, in order to preserve regional security and stability in the face of the growing threats.
