French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday met Egyptian counterpart Abdel
Fattah al-Sisi in Paris for their latest talks aimed at tightening a
relationship based on security and defence ties that has troubled activists.
اضافة اعلان
Macron hosted the Egyptian strongman at the Elysee Palace days after hosting
UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, himself a close ally of Sisi's
secular administration.
With growing concern over the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on global
food supplies, the pair discussed ways to deal with the "economic, energy
and global food security consequences of this conflict", the Elysee said
in a statement.
Egypt is due to host the COP 27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in
November and Macron and Sisi also discussed the fight against global warming.
"The two presidents took stock of the main issues of bilateral
cooperation, which are very dense in all areas," it added.
Last year, Egypt's military ordered 30 more Rafale jets from French defence firm
Dassault Aviation in a multi-billion-dollar defence deal confirmed by France.
Macron has during his rule placed considerable emphasis on relations with
Egypt and during a state visit in December 2020 gave Sisi France's highest
award, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, in a move that left rights
activists aghast.
Activists have long expressed unease over Sisi's visits, saying that France
should be doing more to raise concern about the estimated 60,000 political
prisoners languishing in Egyptian prisons.
In a nod to these concerns, the Elysee statement said: "As part of the
dialogue of confidence between France and Egypt, they also addressed the issue
of human rights."
There has been particular concern over the case of dissident Egyptian
activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 100
days after being sentenced in December to five years in prison.
Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had ahead of the talks
urged Macron not "to ignore the fate of Alaa Abdel Fattah... and of all
the detained journalists".
France had secured promises of new energy supplies from the United Arab
Emirates on Monday after talks between Macron and Sheikh Mohamed, known
as MBZ.
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