On Monday, 18 September, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with a group of influential US figures including former military officials, leaders of American Jewish Organizations and think tank experts.

According to a statement released by the Office of the Presidency, President El Sisi addressed a number of issues that touched on Egypt’s domestic security developments, economic progress, democratic transformation, regional vision, the peace process, human rights, and work of NGOs in Egypt:

Domestic Security Developments:

President El Sisi noted that the war against terrorism “cannot be compared with a regular war, and that the international community should address it through a comprehensive approach based on four pillars” including “confronting all terrorist organizations without differentiation; addressing the various aspects of terrorism such as funding, arming, and political and ideological support; curtailing the terrorist organizations’ ability to recruit fighters; and preserving national state institutions in the region.”

Economic Progress:

President El Sisi “noted that the economic reform program started to bear fruit and that Egypt’s foreign reserves have reached pre-2011 levels”.

Democratic Transformation:

President El Sisi “noted that Egypt now has a clear constitutional framework that regulates the relation between state authorities, and gives broad power to the elected House of Representatives” and “confirmed that what has been achieved represents tangible steps on the path of democratic transformation in the Middle East”. President El Sisi also “reiterated that Egypt is committed to respecting and promoting human rights”.

Regional Vision:

“President El Sisi outlined Egypt’s vision which is based on preserving the nation state and on supporting national institutions so as to enable them to assume their responsibilities in maintaining security and in combating terrorism…President El Sisi underscored the need to avoid the fragmentation of states in the Middle East, noting that this could lead to more conflicts and crises.”

The Peace Process:

President El Sisi “reviewed Egypt’s efforts to revive the peace process” and “reiterated Egypt’s position in support of all international efforts and initiatives aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive settlement to this issue in line with the accepted international resolutions”.

Human Rights:

“The President reiterated that Egypt is committed to respecting and promoting human rights. He noted that the concept of human rights should not be limited to political rights, but should be addressed through a comprehensive perspective that also encompasses economic and social rights, including the right for education, health, housing and to work.”

NGOs in Egypt:

“President El Sisi made it clear that the government considers NGOs as a key partner on the path for development and supports their role…He added that the application of the provisions of the law did not begin yet, and that its executive regulations are currently being prepared so as to agree on the mechanisms for its application to ensure that the work of NGOs is not impeded.”

For more information, see the below release from the Office of the Presidency.

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President El Sisi Meets Prominent U.S. Figures

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met at his residence in New York on Monday with a group of influential U.S. figures, that included former secretaries and military officials as well as leaders of think tanks and American Jewish organizations.

President El Sisi welcomed the prominent American figures, who contribute to shaping the American vision and the direction of the decision-making process on various international issues, particularly U.S. interests in the Middle East. The President underscored the importance of the strategic and decades-old relations between Egypt and the U.S., and emphasized that Egypt is committed to further advancing and strengthening them.

President El Sisi reviewed domestic developments and confirmed that Egypt has been fighting a war against terrorism and extremism over the past years. The President noted that this war cannot be compared with a regular war, and that the international community should address it through a comprehensive approach based on four pillars. Those include confronting all terrorist organizations without differentiation; addressing the various aspects of terrorism such as funding, arming, and political and ideological support; curtailing the terrorist organizations’ ability to recruit fighters; and preserving national state institutions in the region.

The President outlined measures undertaken by Egypt to achieve economic development. He emphasized that the implementation of the economic reform program would not have been possible without the Egyptian people’s understanding for the need to take harsh decisions to address longstanding economic problems. The President noted that the economic reform program started to bear fruit and that Egypt’s foreign reserves have reached pre-2011 levels. President El Sisi outlined the measures undertaken to create an environment conducive to investment. This is in addition to national projects implemented by the state particularly in infrastructure, the new administrative capital and new cities currently being implemented in various parts of Egypt.

With regard to the democratic transformation and human rights in Egypt, President El Sisi noted that Egypt has now a clear constitutional framework that regulates the relation between state authorities, and gives broad power to the elected House of Representatives. He confirmed that what has been achieved represents tangible steps on the path of democratic transformation in the Middle East. President El Sisi stressed the need for western countries to understand these realities and not to judge from a western perspective.

The President reiterated that Egypt is committed to respecting and promoting human rights. He noted that the concept of human rights should not be limited to political rights, but should be addressed through a comprehensive perspective that also encompasses economic and social rights, including the right for education, health, housing and to work.

Regionally, President El Sisi outlined Egypt’s vision which is based on preserving the nation state and on supporting national institutions so as to enable them to assume their responsibilities in maintaining security and in combating terrorism. The President emphasized the importance of maintaining the unity of Libya, supporting the Libyan national army and preserving its people’s resources. This is in addition to preserving the territorial integrity of Syria. President El Sisi underscored the need to avoid the fragmentation of states in the Middle East, noting that this could lead to more conflicts and crises. The President reviewed Egypt’s efforts to revive the peace process. He reiterated Egypt’s position in support of all international efforts and initiatives aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive settlement to this issue in line with the accepted international resolutions.

The President stated that reaching a just and comprehensive solution to this issue shall provide a new reality in the region and contribute to realizing stability and development. President El Sisi confirmed that Egypt has exerted tremendous efforts over the past period with the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to bring views closer and heal the rift between them in order to achieve national reconciliation and return the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip. The President noted that realizing peace between the Palestinians and Israelis cannot be imposed from outside, but shall be based on a true conviction and will from both sides. President El Sisi stressed that Egypt’s efforts aim to provide an environment conducive to reaching a just settlement for both sides.

Responding to a question on the crisis of Qatar, President El Sisi outlined Egypt’s vision vis-à-vis the crisis. He reiterated that the time has come to vigorously counter parties supporting terrorism and push them to assume their responsibilities. He asserted that Qatar has to show its intention not to harm the interests of Arab states or interfere in their internal affairs, by responding to the demands of the four Arab countries.

A number of attendees commended steps undertaken by Egypt to preserve Jewish heritage. President El Sisi stressed Egypt’s keenness on preserving and maintaining heritage of various eras, civilizations and religions.

On the status of non-governmental organizations, NGOs, in Egypt after the endorsement of the relevant new law, President El Sisi made it clear that the government considers NGOs as a key partner on the path for development and supports their role. He added that the House of Representatives endorsed a law to legalize their status, in light of the growing concerns developed by the society as a result of the activities of some of these organizations over the past years. The President noted that the ratification of the new NGO law came in respect for the constitutional framework and the authority of the House of Representatives. He added that the application of the provisions of the law did not begin yet, and that its executive regulations are currently being prepared so as to agree on the mechanisms for its application to ensure that the work of NGOs is not impeded.