Al-Sisi: Egypt refuses to infringe on the sovereignty of the Red Sea countries

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed that the responsibility for the security of the Red Sea and the governance of its affairs lies with the riparian countries, rejecting any attempts at hegemony or external presence outside the legitimate frameworks of regional cooperation.

During his discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, today, Thursday, which dealt with a number of files and issues, Sisi stressed Egypt’s firm support for the stability of the Horn of Africa region and the preservation of the sovereignty of its countries, declaring his rejection of any measures aimed at establishing new arrangements for access to the Red Sea at the expense of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the riparian countries.

In a related context, Al-Sisi stressed to his Korean counterpart the vital importance of the Nile waters as an existential issue for the Egyptian people, given that the river is the lifeline for more than 100 million citizens.

He announced Egypt's full support for development in the Nile Basin countries, explaining that Cairo categorically rejects unilateral measures that violate the principle of non-harm and the relevant rules of international law, and affect Egypt's historical water rights.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s firm position calling for achieving a just and comprehensive settlement of the issue, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the principle of the two-state solution.

This includes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in order to achieve lasting and just peace in the region.

The Egyptian President also expressed Egypt's aspiration for more countries to recognize the Palestinian state, appreciating at the same time the anticipated Korean active participation in the reconstruction efforts of the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian President stressed his country's complete rejection of any plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people, and also condemned the Israeli escalation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.