Government gave Parliament copy of Tiran, Sanafir sessions

CAIRO – 12 June 2017: The government handed a copy of eleven sessions’ records regarding Tiran and Sanafir islands to the Legislative Committee of the Parliament, stated Consular and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marwan said in statements on Monday.

These sessions were said to be held inside the Parliament, discussing the maritime boundaries before a presidential decree, issued by former President Hosni Mubarak on 1990 saying that Tiran and Sanafir islands are not inside the Egyptian territory.

Marwan, added during the second day of discussing the controversial maritime boundaries deal, that the sessions’ records were provided for the Judiciary, however, he submitted it due to parliamentarians’ requests.

Starting from Sunday June 11 the Parliamentary Committee started holding three day discussion debating the deal. A wide-scale contravention took place among parliamentarians during the first day, as parliamentarian Khaled Youssef was threatened to be expelled from the session along with other members affiliated to 25-30 Alliance.

‘We are discussing a case that may lead us even to leave the parliament membership, we are not leaving the discussion now for any reason,’ Youssef said arguing with Parliament speaker Ali Abdel Aal, Sunday according to Al-Shorouk.

Two different judicial decrees were issued regarding Tiran and Sanafir islands. ‘Saying that the two islands are Egyptian is not a matter of question,’ the Supreme Administrative Court stated in its rule On January 16.

Last April, the Court of Urgent Matters accepted the case filed against the ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court and ruled the islands agreement is valid.

According to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry statements at the first inquiry session on the deal at the Parliament Sunday, the controversial maritime demarcation deal between Egypt and Saudi Arabia was based on a presidential decree that was issued by former President Hosni Mubarak in 1990.