By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Wednesday played host to a delegation of United States Congress members, where discussions centered on enhancing relations of both countries at all levels, Ahmed Fahmy, spokesperson for the presidency said in a statement.
The bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers was led by Senators Lindsay Graham and Robert Menendez, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
According to the statement, the meeting which also had in attendance, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials looked into the ongoing negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Al-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s position of seeking a binding legal agreement on the filling and operation of the dam that respects the interests and concerns of all three countries.
The statement further stated that the meeting featured an open dialogue on ways to boost bilateral relations, especially in the area of economic development and means to raise the investments of US companies in Egypt.
The meeting also addressed Egypt’s efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, promote human rights, and foster religious tolerance, coexistence, and citizenship, the statement added.
“On regional and international issues, the meeting tackled several topics, including the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its geopolitical and economic implications, ways to enhance international peace and security, as well as developments in Sudan, Libya, and Syria. The meeting agreed on the need to expedite political solutions to these crises that preserve the unity, sovereignty, and resources of these countries while highlighting the positive and vital role of Egypt in this regard.
“Additionally, the meeting dealt with developments in the Palestinian issue, where Al-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s firm stance on the necessity of advancing international efforts to reach a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and their independent state per international resolutions”, Fahmy stated.
