Sisi to visit France, Italy in First EU Trip

Local Editor

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visits France and Italy next week in his first European trip since ousting his predecessor.

Al-Sisi, who was then army chief, overthrew Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, prompting a wave of violence between Mursi supporters and security forces that drew rebukes from the US and Europe.

The four-day tour, during which al-Sisi will meet the French and Italian heads of state, is aimed at coordinating a response to fighting between government-backed troops and militias in Libya, as well as boosting economic ties.

"Both sides will look at enhancing cooperation in all sectors," presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said.

The visit, which begins Monday, comes at a time when Egypt's military is battling its own militant insurgency in the Sinai peninsula, in which scores of policemen and soldiers have died.

A brazen suicide attack last month killed 30 soldiers near the North Sinai capital El-Arish, sparking a state of emergency and leading to a curfew being slapped on several areas.

Al-Sisi met French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, and received his foreign and defense ministers in Cairo.
The two are expected to discuss a response to a conflict in Libya pitting militias and their allies against a weak but internationally-backed government.

Both Egypt and France argue that the "threat" in Libya should merit the same attention as the "ISIL" group, whose militants have captured parts of Iraq and Syria, winning a pledge of allegiance from militants in the Sinai.

"We will definitely discuss with the French side, and look at ways of helping the Libyan government to restore stability and peace in Libya," Youssef said.
Egypt has denied reports that it facilitated air strikes by the United Arab Emirates, a close ally, against militias in Libya.

Al-Sisi is also to meet with the head of France's National Assembly, Claude Bartolone, on Wednesday.

In Italy, which he will visit first, al-Sisi will meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday, religious news agency I. Media said, citing diplomatic sources.
It will be the first visit to the Vatican by an Egyptian leader in eight years.

Al-Sisi also has talks slated with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and business leaders, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

They are expected to discuss investment, poverty reduction and counter-terror measures.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team