Egypt urges coop. with EU for Mideast security and peace

BRUSSELS, June 21 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal called Thursday on the European Union (EU) to cooperate with his country to establish peace and security in the Middle East and the wider region.
Speaking at the European Parliamentآ’s Foreign Affairs Committee he noted that it is first time that the speaker of the Egyptian parliament visits the European Parliament after 2004.
"We have a new constitution, new president and new parliament," he said and referred to the new laws concerning economic, political, social and media issues passed by the parliament.
Abdel Aal said the main challenges facing Egypt are terrorism, illegal immigration and the economic situation, and called for international cooperation to fight terrorism.
He said Egypt is making enormous efforts to deal with illegal migration and noted that Europeآ’s stability is linked with Egyptآ’s stability.
"We need to work together in the interests of both sides," he stressed.
The Egyptian Parliament speaker presented an overview of the current economic and political situation in his country and about regional issues like Syria and Yemen. (end) nk.mt