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Russia wants Egypt to be strong, stable – defence minister

Russia watches the events in Egypt, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu ITAR-TASS/Gennady Hamelyanin
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu
© ITAR-TASS/Gennady Hamelyanin

MOSCOW, February 13. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia watches the events in Egypt, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday.

“First of all, I want to congratulate you on promoting to a marshal’s grade. This is a just reward to your activity on this position by ensuring peace and stability in Egypt,” Shoigu told al-Sisi.

“We watch the development of events in your country. We want Egypt to be a strong and stable state,” the Russian minister said.

“We’re pleased with the fact that Egypt has adopted a new constitution at a nationwide referendum,” he said.

“We consider your efforts on ensuring stability in the country effective,” Shoigu said, adding “We uphold your actions to fight terrorism. We’ve have to discuss the most important issues of military and military-technical cooperation, their state and prospects for the future.”

“We seek to develop such cooperation, which has deep roots,” the Russian minister said.

Al-Sisi also congratulated the Russian minister “with the excellent organisation of the Olympic Games in Sochi”. “This is unforgettable,” the Egyptian minister said.

“Today we’re holding talks, which continue the friendship that unite the Russian and Egyptian people.” “Such friendship prove both states’ drive for developing cooperation,” al-Sisi said.

He thanked Shoigu “for a hospitable and warm reception”. “Our visit gives a new start to developing military and military-technical cooperation between Egypt and Russia that has been always based on mutual interests,” al-Sisi said.

“Today the world is going through hard times. In particular, the Middle East is in the zone of turbulence. In Egypt we oppose different challenges and terrorism is the most serious one. We exert maximum effort to control the situation,” he said.