PM: Egypt won’t accept any solution of regional problems at its expense

Egypt’s Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli reiterated that Egypt will not accept any solution or termination of any regional issue at its expense.

Speaking during a meeting with Sinai tribesmen at the HQ of Battalion 101 in Arish on the sidelines of opening phase 2 of Sinai development project, the premier said “Egyptians are ready to defend every grain of sand in North Sinai even if they sacrificed millions of lives.

This is a clear message to all: “Egypt will never allow anything to be imposed on it, and we will not allow a regional issue to be solved on our own terms.

“I wanted to start my talks with you today with this clear message,” Madbouli said, stressing “we won’t allow any party to approach [Sinai].

Madbouli said that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has stressed over and over that Egypt won’t accept any solution to the regional problems at its expense.

Residents of North Sinai have suffered from terrorism and terrorist attacks for 10 years, causing casualties almost every week, Madbouli said.

“We knew North Sinai pretty well, and we were not working in normal circumstances,” the premier said.

“Sinia has faced numerous problems since the occupation in 1967 until the 1973 war, and we have been through a system of peace treaties until we retrieved our lands,” Madbouli said.

Many plans have been drawn up to develop Sinai since its liberation until 2014 regardless of the little potentials, the prime minister added.

“It was serious action and not just a dream or a blueprint,” he stressed. The actual implementation of the development projects started after President Sisi assumed office in 2014, Madbouli told the tribesmen.”

He noted that it was agreed to implement 21 urban development clusters divided into the three main neighborhoods, with 6 clusters to be implemented in Rafah, 11 in Sheikh Zuweid, and 4 in Al-Arish.

“We were keen to replicate the Sinai house designs so that the new buildings would be in line with the cultural and traditional character of the people of Sinai,” he said.

He explained that “We also ensured that every region or neighborhood would have theutilities that would serve the citizens.”

“Later on, every three neighborhoods would have a large central area with a secondary school and a hospital that would serve the broader neighborhoods.”

During the visit, Dr Madbouli, accompanied by a high-level delegation, also followed international relief planes arriving at Al-Arish Airport and then to the Rafah and Al-Awja crossings to reach the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian Red Crescent announced that planes arrive from several Arab and foreign countries carrying a variety of different relief aids for the benefit of the Gaza Strip.