President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received on Monday Pope Matthias of Ethiopia, who headed a delegation from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
"The president welcomed Pope Matthias and the accompanying delegation and assured that Egypt cannot be against right of Ethiopian people in development,” said Presidential Spokesperson Alaa Youssef. “If the River Nile is a source of development for Ethiopians, It’s source of life, not only development, for Egyptians.”
Egypt’s Copts leader Pope Tawadros and Presidential Adviser to National Security Affairs Fayza Abul Naga were attending.
During the meeting, Sisi stressed necessity to take practical measures to make political agreements take a legal form in order to preserve rights of both countries and boost the joint cooperation.
Sisi also said that Egypt has started a new era of opening up to Africa, and especially Ethiopia, indicating chances of development as well as importance of bilateral trade exchange.
Pope Tawadros tackled the extended and strong historical ties between the two Egyptian and Ethiopian churches during the meeting, Youssef said. He also discussed projects carried out by the Coptic church in Ethiopia to foster development, especially in fields of health and education.
Tawadros highlighted importance that all efforts to boost cooperation and preserve joint interests in the Nile water, saying that God has gifted it to both countries and that the other gifts like water and air were granted to all humans not specific people or religion.
Meanwhile, Patriarch Matthias expressed agreement with Tawadros’ viewpoint that all humans have the right in water and air without discrimination and that he has a message to spread peace and love especially among youth.
Matthias also welcomed outcome of the Egyptian popular diplomatic delegation’s visit to Ethiopia in December. He also expressed Ethiopian people’s wish to visit Addis Ababa, which Sisi welcomed.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
