President Sisi meets US congressional delegation

CAIRO - 2 July 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with U.S. republican Roger Wicker and his accompanying U.S. congressional delegation on Sunday, where they discussed counter-terrorism and bilateral relations.

The meeting was held in the attendance of Egypt’s foreign affairs minister.
Wicker and the accompanying congressional delegation arrived to Cairo on Saturday. Media outlets reported that the delegation arrived for security talks with Egyptian high-ranking officials.

President Sisi began the meeting speaking about bilateral relations; as he praised the strength of the Egyptian-American strategic relations, noting that he was keen to visit the U.S. congress headquarter during his recent visit to Washington in April, in order to enhance bilateral relations between both countries.

He continued that the visits of the U.S. Congress members to Egypt also strengthened both countries relations, clarified the real situation in Egypt and the region, and opened doors to exchanging views on regional crises and ways to deal with them between both sides.

Both sides confirmed during the meeting on the necessity of advancing their relations on several levels throughout the upcoming phase.

Moreover, counter-terrorism and security issues came at the top of the meeting. President Sisi stressed on the importance of the international community's adoption for an effective strategy to combat terrorism and to take a firm stand against countries that finance terrorist groups and supply them with weapons and fighters.

Regarding regional issues, the president said that the current challenges in the Middle East require the two countries to enhance joint cooperation on all levels to deal with crises of the region.

As for the part of the Palestinian issue, the president confirmed Egypt's efforts to find a lasting and just solution for the issue based on the two-state solution and the resolutions of international legitimacy.

Egyptian-American relations witnessed great enhancement following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. In recent meeting between both countries' leaders, they affirmed the good relation and mutual cooperation. Sisi was the first President to congratulate Trump for his inauguration.