The President’s Speeches

“In the name of Allah the Most Benevolent, the Most Merciful”

 

Your Excellency President Andrzej Duda,

 

The President of the Republic of Poland,

 

At the beginning, it is my pleasure to welcome your excellency on your state visit to Egypt, which is of particular significance being the first presidential visit from the two sides, in spite of the century-long diplomatic relations. 

The vital timing of this visit demonstrates the importance that we accord to bilateral relations and our keenness to elevate them to broader horizons and more distinct levels.

 

On the bilateral level, our discussions tackled in detail means to further enhance and develop relations between the two countries across different fields to achieve the interests of both the Egyptian and Polish peoples.

 

This requires intensifying mutual visits at various levels to deepen cooperation in areas of common interest, particularly economic cooperation, promising opportunities in different fields, the most important of which is increasing trade exchange especially exporting urea, phosphate, methanol and construction materials from Egypt to Poland.

 

This is in addition to intensifying cooperation in the fields of digital transformation, new and renewable energy, water desalination and waste recycling, as well as tourism and medical services and benefiting from Poland’s expertise in these fields, also the transfer and localization of Polish technology in Egypt.

 

Poland’s decision to resume the flights of the national Polish airline between Cairo and Warsaw as of May 31st, 2022 has been welcomed.

 

We rely heavily on this step to facilitate transportation and investment between the two countries, which shall attract Polish investments to Egypt and increase the flow of Polish tourism to Egypt’s destinations, especially that Poland ranks fifth among the countries exporting tourism to Egypt.

 

I was keen to inform President Duda of all developments in Egypt in areas related to the work of the European Union, such as issues of human rights and combating terrorism.

 

Egyptian efforts made in this regard were reviewed, particularly with the launch of the first National Strategy for Human Rights in September 2021, as well as the progress that has been made in the field of promoting citizenship rights, religious freedoms, and combating extremism.

 

This is in light of the special interest that Poland attaches to the issue of religious persecution in all relevant international fora.

 

I also expressed Egypt’s aspiration for Poland’s support for Egypt’s efforts to eradicate terrorism by highlighting the national efforts exerted with the aim of maintaining regional and international security and stability.

 

This is in addition to emphasizing the need to multiply efforts to confront terrorism internationally, particularly with regard to the financing of terrorism and providing safe havens to terrorists.

 

The discussions also touched on reviewing efforts made by Egypt, through all its institutions, to stop illegal immigration from the Egyptian coasts to Europe through the Mediterranean, despite the burden it places on the Egyptian economy, by hosting more than 6 million refugees who enjoy all essential rights and services in Egypt.

 

This has had the best effect in relieving the pressure of migration from the European continent, whose countries have been recently witnessing an intense influx of immigrants.

 

Poland’s willingness to provide expertise regarding Egypt’s hosting of the World Climate Summit “COP-27” was welcomed, taking into account the fact that Poland has hosted three previous sessions of the summit.

 

A consensus was reached during the discussions on the importance of supporting the stability of social and economic development, while implementing measures concerning climate change mitigation and adaptation.

 

The Polish side was invited to a high-level participation in the conference.

 

Regionally and internationally, discussions touched on a number of Egypt’s priority issues, foremost is the Renaissance Dam file.

 

In this regard, the Egyptian efforts over a full decade of negotiations were discussed.

 

 These negotiations aim to reach an equitable and legally binding agreement which ensures that the Egyptian water interests and the rights of current and future generations in the Nile water, the main source of water for Egypt, would remain intact and, at the same time, ensures the achievement of the development goals of the Ethiopian people fairly.

 

The talks also touched on a number of issues in the Middle East, on top of which is the Palestinian cause, the core issue in the region.

 

 The importance of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, was emphasized.

 

This requires the settlement policy and the annexation of the Palestinian lands to come to an end as well as the need for conditions conducive for serious and constructive negotiations that lead to a sustainable settlement to this prolonged conflict.

 

On the international level, discussions dealt with the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, which casts a shadow over the entire global economy and threatens food security in various countries of the world.

 

The Polish view was reviewed with regard to the causes of the crisis and means to overcome them.

 Egypt’s perspective was also reviewed as well as its position to address all means in founding calm, reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict and exerting all efforts to achieve this, whether on the bilateral, regional or international levels.

 

The importance of finding alternatives and solutions was emphasized in order to ensure that people circumvent the negative impact of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

 

In this context, the Egyptian efforts exerted to contribute to settling the crisis were reviewed through the Egyptian initiative to form a ministerial contact group within the framework of the Arab League.

 

Last April, the group visited Moscow and Warsaw to meet with the foreign ministers of concerned countries to urge all parties to calm and give priority to dialogue and negotiation until a settlement is reached in order to prevent the scourge of war and its dire economic effects.

 

Mr. President Duda, once again, I welcome you and express my appreciation for your honorable person, on your first visit to Egypt, and I welcome your invitation to visit Poland as soon as possible.

Your visit marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation and coordination between Egypt and Poland in order to further strengthen and deepen bilateral relations, for the benefit of the two friendly countries and peoples.

 

Source: State Information Service Egypt