Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Antonio Tajani, today.
According to African Press Organization, the meeting was attended by Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty. From the Italian side, the Italian Ambassador to Egypt Agostino Palese, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, Chief of the Foreign Minister Cabinet Ambassador Francesco Genuardi, and Deputy Secretary-General / Director General for Political Affairs and International Security Minister Plenipotentiary Cecilia Piccioni were present.
The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, conveyed that Mr. Tajani brought greetings from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to President El-Sisi. The President highlighted the longstanding ties between Egypt and Italy and requested that his greetings be passed to the Italian Prime Minister, appreciating the progress in bilateral relations.
A letter from President El-Sisi to the Italian Prime Minister was delivered, congratulating her government on becoming the longest-serving in Italy since World War II. The letter acknowledged the development in bilateral relations across various fields and extended an invitation for the Prime Minister to visit Egypt for continued coordination and consultation on mutual interests.
President El-Sisi stressed the importance of implementing the outcomes of the Egyptian-Italian Joint Committee to enhance cooperation in trade and investment. He also aimed to develop ongoing cooperation in energy, education, maritime transport, agriculture, and tourism. Mr. Tajani confirmed Italy's interest in strengthening and expanding cooperation with Egypt, maintaining coordination to tackle illegal migration.
The meeting addressed both regional and international developments. Mr. Tajani was briefed on President El-Sisi's views on containing regional tensions linked to the Iranian war and Egypt's efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. He expressed Italy's appreciation for Egypt's efforts to restore regional stability and emphasized Italy's desire to continue political consultations with Egypt to achieve peaceful resolutions to regional crises, promoting peace and prosperity.
President El-Sisi underscored the vital importance of the Nile River to Egypt, emphasizing the country's legitimate right to safeguard its water and food security. He rejected any unilateral actions affecting the river's course and stressed the necessity for full compliance with international law.
The meeting also touched upon developments in the Horn of Africa, emphasizing the need for joint coordination to support security and stability, respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity. The importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in international maritime corridors and the strategic significance of the Red Sea to Egyptian national security were highlighted.
President El-Sisi asserted that Red Sea security is the exclusive responsibility of the littoral states, rejecting attempts to destabilize the region or push it toward militarization and internationalization.