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President Al-Sisi: Kuwait-Egypt relations will remain an example for pan-Arab cooperation

Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi during interview with KUNA Board Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah
Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi during interview with KUNA Board Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah

By Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah

CAIRO, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi, in an exclusive and lengthy interview with Kuwait News Agency's chief, affirmed that historic and solid relations between Egypt and the State of Kuwait would remain an example to be followed at the level of brotherly ties and joint destiny among Arab brothers.
President Al-Sisi noted that his meeting with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was distinguished with an atmosphere of genuine brotherhood, understanding and mutual keenness on bolstering and boosting the bilateral relations.
In the lengthy interview with KUNA Board Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah, President Al-Sisi stated, "I explicitly affirm that the Gulf security is a red line, inseparable from the Egyptian national security," clarifying that Egypt's bonds with the Gulf is solid and cooperation between the two sides constitutes a basis for bolstering joint Arab action.
The Egyptian President stressed on necessity of solidarity among Arab states, at this critical time period, rebuilding crises-ridden Arab countries and foiling schemes to weaken others.
He indicated that foreign powers exploited "the Arab revolutions, funded terrorist and radical forces in Libya and Syria," noting that mounting danger of "takfiri groups" in Syria and Iraq and their schemes to expand would lead to bridging the gap of Arabs' views regarding means of settling the Syrian crisis.
Egypt is recovering and restoring its regional and international status despite hard economic conditions and attempts to obstruct its quest to restore its normal role, President Al-Sisi told Sheikh Mubarak in the special interview, also noting that a large number of measures have been taken to lure foreign investments to his nation.
Moreover, the President affirmed necessity of "re-guiding the religious rhetoric and ridding it of incorrect themes that contradict the basis of the Islamic religion," stressing on the necessity that the media take part in shouldering some of the responsibilities for facing and tackling the nation's problems and the grave challenges.

The KUNA chief began the interview, asking President Al-Sisi about his assessment of the Kuwaiti-Egyptian ties, his perspective for bolstering this relationship in the foreseeable future? His assessment of the meeting that had grouped him with His Highness the Amir during the ceremony of his assumption of the Presidency post in Cairo? President Al-Sisi stated that the brotherly and historic relations between Kuwait and Egypt have been solid and extraordinary, where these bilateral ties have always been an example to follow as to the brotherly ties and common destiny among the Arab brothers, also noting in this respect that Egyptian and Kuwaiti troops had fought side by side, in the past and the blood of the fallen martyrs had mingled.
The Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations will remain "a shining mark for cooperation and coordination among the Arab countries and we will act to cement them for sake of preserving our joint interests," the President said.
On his meeting with His Highness the Amir, President Al-Sisi stated that it was distinguished with "an atmosphere of genuine brotherhood, understanding and joint keenness on backing the bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the commercial, economic and investment sectors, where Kuwait ranks fifth among the list of foreign states that invest in Egypt, and the third among the Arab countries in this respect.
"We will work together to support these investments and tackle any obstacles facing this approach for realizing the Kuwaiti-Egyptian interests." He expressed gratitude for the Kuwaiti political and economic support for Egypt since flare-up of the June 30 revolution. "Such support affirms the two sides' belief in the joint destiny." he said.

The KUNA chief asked the President whether he desires to visit "your second country Kuwait?" President Al-Sisi affirmed that he was looking forward to come to Kuwait, meet His Highness the Amir and discuss with him various issues of common interest at the regional and international levels, as well as means of bolstering further the distinctive bilateral relations bonding the two countries.
Asked for how long Egypt will continue to witness some protests and troubles? President Al-Sisi replied that these demonstrations "do not represent majority of the Egyptians; they represent a very small minority seeking to defy the regime and incite the public.
"However I assure you that the Egyptian people are aware of such bids and will not be responsive and I would like to assure you, the Egyptian people and all peace and stability loving Arab peoples that the Egyptian Government, with backing of the people, adopts a long term policy and will remain steadfast, as people and the army, as a single hand, defending and safeguarding the homeland.
"By the will of (His Almighty) Allah, we will soon uproot terrorism and we will enjoy full stability and calm in Egypt which will remain a homeland of security and their people will remain bonded till doomsday." In response to a question by the KUNA chief Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij about his perspective for combating terrorism targeting Egypt and many Arab States and his assessment of the Egyptian security campaign against the terrorists in Sinai, the President stated that the Egyptian State adopts a comprehensive approach for combating terrorism that emphasizes the development aspect, with its economic and social dimensions, in addition to the security efforts and the military confrontation, with aim of targeting the basic causes that constitute the fertile environment for luring the frustrated elements, particularly the youth.
In this respect arises the necessity to redirect the religious rhetoric for clearing Islam's image and presenting its facts, with regard of tolerance and moderation; "we shall be questioned about this responsibility by His Almighty (in the afterlife)." Also in this respect, arises necessity of the media language, "for we in the Arab world need a responsible and conscious media address that contributes to securing a state of national solidarity for a single goal; that is safeguarding the national state and working for supporting and strengthening it and averting its collapse or partition." As to the efforts to fight terrorism in Sinai, Al-Sisi elaborated, the operation has been proceeding in earnest, where most of the underground tunnels have been shut and regular combing operations have been carried out. "The treacherous terrorist operations which we have been witnessing, such as the latest operation that has targeted Karam Al-Kawadis checkpoint, have been backed from abroad.
"However, the Egyptian State has taken rapid measures, such as enforcing a state of emergency, a curfew, protecting public and vital installations with participation of the armed forces and the policemen. A military operation in Sinai is being executed to track down the terrorist elements, and in fact, a number of them have been eliminated in the latest operation in North Sinai."

Turning to the diverse files and major challenges facing President Al-Sisi's leadership at local and external levels, the KUNA Chairman Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij asked him about his prospected policy of addressing the issues.
In this respect, Sheikh Mubarak asked about the current economic conditions since January 25, 2011, in light of the people grand aspirations for development schemes.
Certainly, President Al-Sisi replied, economic problems have piled up throughout long decades, coupled with mounting population growth at high rates, however these problems "will not prevent us from proceeding with the comprehensive development plans, thus we have shifted toward mega economic ventures, designed to make a qualitative stride in the Egyptian economy." President Al-Sisi mentioned, as part of this approach, construction of a new Suez canal and developing its vicinity. "We aspire to accomplish the new canal venture in one year, instead of the experts' prediction, ranging between three to five years.
"We ar racing with time, and simultaneously orders have been given to begin construction of an international logistical and storage center, also for cereals' trade, at Dimyat port, as part of a chain of similar projects that will be executed." At the agricultural level, authorities aim to reclaim four million feddans of land in the preliminary phase of the agricultural development scheme, aimed at reclaiming a total of four million feddans. "We are acting at multiple axes, depending on Allah's support and will of the Egyptian people, and we expect further support from our brothers, whether in the form of financial contributions, direct investments or easy loans." A feddan is an Egyptian unit of area equivalent to 1.038 acres.
Asked about planned new laws and measures to lure investments and tackle certain problems that face investors, particularly those that emerged following the January 25 revolution? President Al-Sisi acknowledged that the Egyptian legislations badly warrant amendment, thus "the State is working on issuance of a package of new laws in this respect, namely the common investment law in addition to the laws related to work and taxes and other relevant issues." The President added that he had instructed the legislative reform committee, during the latest meeting, to devote top attention to the investment law. "Also we are seeking to apply the single window system to shorten bureaucratic measures and save time and effort for the entrepreneurs.
"In This respect, we welcome our brothers in the State of Kuwait to invest in various sectors in Egypt, we also aspire to witness effective presence on part of the State of Kuwait and its funding institutions such as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development at the economic conference due to be hosted by Egypt next February."

 Asked about forecast benefits from the new canal, which Sheikh Mubarak labelled in his question "as Egypt's gift to the world," the President answered, "It is indeed Egypt's gift to the globe, for the new canal will facilitate navigation for ships sailing from the south and north of the canal, will significantly lower waiting hours, thus shortening process of navigation and goods' delivery.
   "The current Suez canal accommodates 49 ships per day and after operating the new one, the number will reach some 98 ships per day."
   Digging the new canal is scheduled to finish in one year, after which the canal proceeds will increase by USD 4.7 billion, in addition to the projected USD five billion for the year 2014.
   President Al-Sisi indicated that the elaborate scheme envisages affiliate industrial and service projects, such as ship-building and maintenance yards, loading and unloading cargo sectors, a tourist and shopping town in the Suez, in addition to creating new jobs and developing the canal governorates, "This venture will make the Suez canal the most important navigation passageway for the international trade and will contribute to attracting investors from various States to invest in these projects."
   Asked about the visionary plan, the "desert development corridor," proposed by the eminent geologist, Dr. Farouk Al-Baz, the President acknowledged that the mega scheme aims at helping in efforts to cope with the growing population, but he noted that "we are not executing this venture altogether, we have started in phases, simultaneously with the million feddans' reclamation, in addition to the national roads venture, building new urban communities with full services and facilities. We will move from one stage to the next.
   Dr. El-Baz's venture, adopted by the Egyptian Government, envisions construction, along 1,200 kilometers, of a new eight-lane superhighway, a railway, a water pipeline, and a power line to open new land for urban development, commerce, agriculture, tourism and related jobs. It installs new transportation routes to an undeveloped area of desert running parallel to the Nile River Valley and the Delta.
   The President indicated that the authorities would seek to secure funding from national resources, ordinary citizens' contributions, as was the case when the current Suez canal was dug, he said, noting that the Egyptians at the time collected 64 billion Egyptian pounds for the major venture in eight days. He also noted that Cairo would seek aid from brotherly countries and Arab, international funding institutions and agencies.
   The Egyptian pound equals USD 0.14.
   Switching to the issue of directing the media to serve the national development, the President argued against the State-controlled media, in view of the mushrooming electronic media, noting that he senses that the "Egyptian media have become much more aware of the responsibility and I hope this understanding and awareness grow."
   But Al-Sisi in this respect stressed the other "much more important and dangerous axis," which is teaching, where the curricula need to be updated and cleansed of certain themes that encourage extremism and discourage peaceful-coexistence of the nation communities.

 In response to a question whether Egypt has already restored its might on the world map, President Al-Sisi affirmed that the nation "is recovering and restoring its leading regional status and effective role, despite its economic and security circumstances linked to terrorism," also noting in this vein its success in enforcing a cease-fire to stop the latest offensives on Gaza.
As to the Western powers, their stances "have developed in a positive manner after the June 30 events, and that is after the picture has become clearer .. realizing the changes that reflect the free will of the Egyptian people." Asked on his two visits to Russia, he affirmed his approach to establish ties with diverse nations on basis of mutual respect and non-intervention in states' domestic affairs. "Russia is a key international power bonded with historic ties with Egypt and we are keen on developing these ties in various sectors," he said.
On the issue of Al-Nahda dam with Ethiopia, he expressed hope that current meetings with the Ethiopians and the Sudanese would lead to positive results "in a manner that would realize common benefits to all the parties. African nations development interests should not be at the expense of the water rights for the Egyptian people, he noted.
"We in Egypt are in bad need for increasing the water resources to cope with the population growth and the rapid economic requirements," he acknowledged.
As to his concerns whether Muslim Brotherhood activists would re-occupy parliamentary seats after the coming elections, he urged the people to be selective in the upcoming polls and called on the political parties to prepare young and capable contestants.
On his views with respect of the "Arab spring" events, the President acknowledged that the Arab peoples yearned for social and economic reforms and revolted due to bad performance by the rulers, "however there have been some forces that have tried to exploit the revolutions and seize power .. They have used democracy solely to reach power then they have abandoned it, that's what has happened in Egypt .. and that is in addition to external intervention by some powers that have exploited and funded terrorism and extremism." Asked about divergent attitudes by the Arab states toward the Syrian crisis, he expressed his belief that the Arab states largely concur on safeguarding Syria's territorial sanctity, adding that this approach should become stronger in shadow of rising influence of the radical groups.
The KUNA chief asked the President about plans to bolster ties and cooperation with the GCC countries, he stated, "Certainly Egypt views with admiration the honorable and supportive stances of most of the GCC countries, namely the State of Kuwait, for the Egyptian people's revolution on June 30." He affirmed that Cairo was seeking to bolster further the cooperation with the GCC countries and expressed hope that it would develop to include all Arab states.
Asked how he understands role of the Egyptian scientists in making advancement at this level, President al-Sisi said he had formed a special council for the scientists and urged them to contribute with their ideas for developing the nation.
On his outlook for an overall Arab security, the President affirmed that his leadership is seeking to spare the region further escalation and troubles. "I clearly affirm that the security of the Gulf region is a red line and inseparable from Egypt's national security." Regarding his point of view on the Arab-Iranian ties, he said, "there must be political will to improve these ties. I speak on behalf of the Arabs, is there an Iranian land occupied by an Arab state? Do Arab states exploit sectarian differences? I believe the answers to these questions are for granted, anyway, the other side can substantiate the good intentions and knows quite well the decisions that should be made if they wish for improvement of the relations." Whether the Palestinian cause was affected with the "Arab spring," he indicated that the regional events have enabled some powers to affect this cause, noting Cairo's relentless efforts to halt the latest war on Gaza and securing USD 5.4 worth of aid for reconstructing the strip.
He concluded by appealing to the Arabs to get lessons from "the past and the present so that to make our future with our hands. We must be aware of the source of our strength, which is unity in action and word." (end) rk