Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi called on Saturday for a stricter abidance by the principles of international relations, including good neighbourliness, mutual respect, unconditional refraining from interfering in internal affairs, and refraining from supporting extremist groups or transferring their elements from one country to another.
Addressing a large host of regional and international leaders at Baghdad Conference for Co-operation and Partnership on Saturday, the president called on states to stop imposing the status quo with the use of military or material force.
President Sisi also said Egypt rejects the foreign interference in Iraq’s affairs and the illegal aggression on its territories.
“Our meeting today comes to help us renew these permanent principles of international relations,” President Sisi said.
He asked countries to stop providing terrorist and extremist elements a safe refuge or transferring these elements to other countries.
Sitting in front and around the Egyptian leader was a large assembly of regional and international leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi invited these leaders to his country in a sign of Iraq’s return to the regional and the international stage, after a long suffering with terrorism, international sanctions and foreign occupation.
The summit is seen as an opportunity for calming down regional tensions and brokering reconciliation between regional rivals.
Iraqi officials were tight-lipped on the agenda of the summit, but observers expected the event to focus on regional developments, including the war on terrorism, the war in Yemen, the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and the takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban.
President Sisi said the summit was an opportunity for the exchange of views and consultations over the possibility of coordination among the participating states on successive regional and international developments.
These developments, he said, make it necessary for countries to co-operate in a constructive way to face crisis in a practical manner.
“We should do this away from any illegitimate aspirations that violate the rules of international law and do not respect the will of peoples, their political choices and their right to determine their fate,” President Sisi said.
The president added that Egypt would continue to back Iraq, which, like other countries in the region, suffered a huge toll from terrorism.
He added that the high wave of terrorism that hit the region brought about suffering to its peoples and also foreign interference.
“This comes at a time the world faces challenges with an international nature that are affecting all peoples around the world,” the president said.
He noted that all international, ethnic and sectarian conflicts known for long in the Middle East region seem small in the face of these crises.
President Sisi cited the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. He also referred to the problems caused by climate change to all countries.
“The horrors made by these crises make it necessary for us to stand united in the face of everything that threatens the future of our youth,” President Sisi said.
He added that “this can be done by adopting development strategies that protect the planet and the environment.”
President Sisi praised, meanwhile, the achievements made in Iraq in the past few years under the leadership of Prime Minister Kadhimi.
He said Baghdad had succeeded in dealing with major challenges facing the Iraqi people.
The Iraqi security establishment, he said, succeeded in keeping terrorism at bay and eradicating the backward project of Daesh group in the region.
The president noted that the Iraqi security establishment also succeeded in preserving Iraq’s unity, security and national fabric. However, he called for the adoption of economic reforms in all sectors.
President Sisi said a close follow up of efforts made by the Iraq government shows its determination to make a change for the better in Iraq.
“We have confidence in the ability of the [Iraqi] government to honour its electoral pledges in ways that fulfill the aspirations of the Iraqi people and push Iraq forward on the road to the type of future it deserves,” President Sisi said.
During his speech, President Sisi urged the Iraqi people to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, slated for 10 October.
“You are a nation with an ancient civilisation and history… I tell you: Preserve your country… build, co-operate, and participate in the elections.”
“You have brothers in Egypt who are keen on your renaissance, and welcome the transfer of their experience in various fields,” President Sisi said.
He said Egypt, Iraq and Jordan are determined to open a new chapter of co-operation through a multitude of effective mechanisms.
“This co-operation will help us move ahead on the road to a strong partnership that achieves the aspirations of our peoples and serves their interests,” President Sisi said.
