EGYPT – In his speech to the United Nations on Wednesday, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that the world has begun to understand the reality of the extremism that Egyptians revolted against last year.
“The world has started to grasp the reality and understand why Egyptians revolted against extremism that wanted to break the unity of the nation,” said El-Sisi.
At the beginning of his speech, El-Sisi saluted UN officials and also Egyptian expats who came from different cities to the UN headquarters to “say that a new Egypt is coming.”
El-Sisi said that since his election last June, he and other Egyptians have been working to build “a civil democratic state” by following the roadmap announced last year by different political forces soon after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
He also stressed the need for an inclusive state that respects the law, the judiciary and human rights.
Egypt fighting terrorism
El-Sisi said Egypt faced real threats during last year’s politically polarised atmosphere from a group that uses terrorism in the name of religion – a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, declared a terrorist organisation by Egyptian authorities in the months after Morsi’s ouster.
“We have warned against these groups,” said El-Sisi, adding that different countries should step up their efforts to counter terrorism.
El-Sisi said that this group in particular (the Muslim Brotherhood from which Morsi hails) has been spreading false teachings in Egypt since the 1920s while depending on violence and terrorism.
“I stress we should not allow such groups to offend Islam or all Muslims,” said El-Sisi, without mentioning the name of the group.
El-Sisi said that since being elected president he has been working with Egyptians to build a state that enforces the rule of law while respecting rights, duties and freedom of expression and belief.
Middle East peace
Concerning the region, El-Sisi said there must be “a decisive confrontation to the extremism” in Libya, Iraq and Syria.
He also stressed Egypt’s support for the will of Syrians, Libyans, Iraqis and Palestinians.
El-Sisi suggested two main points for regional peace. First, enforcing the principle of citizenship in all Middle East countries, in which all citizens reach a consensus with their country and understand their rights and duties.
Second, a decisive confrontation against all figures of extremism, such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
“We have already had talks with the current Libyan government about an initiative against terrorist groups and we are willing to have a wider conversation about it with different countries,” he said.
He also said the Palestinian issue is at the top of Egypt’s agenda to enforce peace and stop any more bloodshed.
Near the end of his speech, he said he was looking forward to Egypt gaining non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2016.
[…] His trip to the US – his first as Egypt’s president – has already included meetings with US business figures, with whom he discussed tourism and trade projects in an effort to attract investment to Egypt.
El-Sisi, leading an Egyptian delegation of ministers and officials, is tackling a busy schedule in New York, where he is also expected to meet US President Barack Obama. (read more)
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