EU Foreign Policy Chief supports Arab efforts to stop terrorism

CAIRO – 26 July 2017: European Union supports efforts from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to stop terrorism.

“The European Union’s position is clear: All member countries stand behind the demands of the four Arab countries decision to stop support for terrorism,” stated Federica Mogherini EU Foreign Policy Chief in a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sameh Shoukry in Brussels on Tuesday.

All four countries demand that Qatar stop supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood reduce their ties to Iran and close broadcaster Al Jazeera, according to Reuters.

Mogherini added that she would like to express her understanding of the sentiment of the Egyptian public, as Egypt loses victims to terrorism every day.

This comes after Shoukry told a press conference that “we cannot compromise with any form of terrorism, we cannot compromise or enter into any form of negotiations,” despite international pressure to compromise in their negotiations with Qatar in resolving the crisis.

He added, “It is only once the necessary measures are undertaken by Qatar, which goes toward truly accepting to be a partner in the fight against terrorism, that this crisis will be resolved,” he said.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said in the youth conference in Alexandria on Monday that “Egypt will stand by its decision and will not backtrack on this matter.” Adding that “persistence on its own, our stance, and this block, is pressure in itself."