Egypt s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it summoned the Ethiopian chargé d affaires to Cairo on Wednesday to provide clarifications about claims made by the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry s spokesperson on Egypt’s internal affairs. According to news reports, Dina Mufti, Ethiopia s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, criticised on Tuesday the role of Egypt in the issue of the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia has started building on the Blue Nile since 2011. Mufti, who has been Ethiopia’s former ambassador to Cairo, claimed that Egypt "has turned Ethiopia into the threat" and that it would cause thirst and hunger for Egyptians, reflecting the "depth of the internal crisis in Egypt." He claimed further that [Egypt] is doing this "to distract from internal problems," and blame them on the Rennaisance dam. His statements came in a press conference in Addis Ababa in which he also announced that the African Union (AU) has called for a meeting next Sunday between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan to discuss the long-running standoff caused by the GERD. During the press conference, Mufti said that South Africa, the current chair of the AU, called for a resumption of the negotiations between the three parties after a one-month impasse due to Sudan s withdrawal from the AU-brokered negotiations. Last month, Sudan decided not to take part in the latest tripartite ministerial meeting on the GERD, which was scheduled for 21 November, objecting to the adopted methodology of negotiations, saying that the "method followed in negotiating during the past rounds has proven to be unproductive." Egypt and Sudan have been in talks with Ethiopia for years now to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operating of the $4.8 billion near-complete mega dam. South Africa has been mediating negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resolve the dispute over the near-complete dam, which has been a concern for Cairo and Khartoum since the beginning of its construction. The earlier round of talks, which was also mediated by South Africa, between the three countries came to an end in August as a result of disagreements on the rules for filling and operating the hydropower project that culminated in non-binding guidelines proposed by Ethiopia which were rejected by Egypt and Sudan, both of whom seek a legally binding agreement. That round of AU-sponsored talks was launched in July after negotiations between the three countries reached a deadlock last year, as did negotiations sponsored by the US and the World Bank in February. Cairo fears the massive hydropower project will significantly cut its crucial water supplies from the Nile River, while Sudan fears it could endanger the safety of its own dams. Ethiopia says the 6,000-megawatt dam is key to its development and hopes to become Africa’s biggest electricity exporter.

Egypt’s prosecutor-general announced on Wednesday his office will temporarily not pursue a criminal lawsuit in the case of the murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni due to not knowing the identity of the perpetrator of the crime. The prosecutor-general’s office also announced it is excluding from the case the accusations directed to four police officers and a policeman in Egypt’s national security who were accused by Italy s prosecutor-general several weeks ago. In the latest episode of “the Giulio Regeni saga," the Egyptian prosecutor-general said it is closing the case of the theft of Regeni’s belongings since the preparators were killed in a firefight with the police in March 2016, refuting the accusations in his Italian counterpart s statement. Regeni, a 28-year-old student who was conducting his postgraduate research on the Egyptian labour movement, disappeared in Cairo on 25 January 2016, the fifth anniversary of the 2011 Revolution. He was found dead 10 days later in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo. Egyptian investigators said his body bore signs of torture. In its statement on Wednesday, the Egyptian prosecutor-general said Egyptian and Italian investigation teams have held 15 meetings since the onset of investigations. The prosecutor-general’s office revealed that Cairo made five requests to Rome concerning the investigation, some of which were not met. According to the prosecutor-general s statement on Wednesday, the Italian prosecution-general denied the request of his Egyptian counterpart to examine Regeni’s laptop after it was taken back to Italy by his parents. The Egyptian prosecution demanded to check witnesses’ records and statements which the Italian prosecution included in its statement accusing the five Egyptian national security personnel of torturing and killing Regeni. However, the Italian prosecution rejected, claiming it is committed to the countries from where it received the information, despite the fact Egypt is entitled to be aware of all the information concerning the investigation, the Egyptian prosecution said. The Egyptian prosecutor-general declared he received four requests from his Italian counterpart and didn t meet some of them, such as making available mobile phone operators’ data for five metro stations in the period before the disappearance of Regeni and after the appearance of his body. The Egyptian prosecution also rejected to share the names of the foreigners arrested in the country on the night of the Regeni’s disappearance. The Egyptian Prosecution office stated that it rejected both requests for technical reasons and to protect Egyptian citizens’ privacy. Cairo also revealed that it sent requests for assistance in investigation to the UK and Kenya. Egypt wanted to inquire from Cambridge University about the victim’s study and funding for his research. It also wanted to question a witness from Kenya who claimed he knew from an Egyptian officer how Regeni was killed. Both requests were not met without giving reason, the Egyptian prosecution said. On 30 November, the Egyptian and Italian prosecution issued a joint statement on the case showing both were taking different routes in the murder investigation. The Italian prosecution intends to conclude its own investigation into the murder, which has led it to five Egyptian suspects, all of whom work in the Egyptian security apparatuses. The suspected involvement of the five security personnel is not connected to any Egyptian governmental entity. The Italian prosecution will present its case to Rome s Preliminary Investigations judge. However, the Egyptian prosecution said that while it appreciates the Italian legal proceedings, it has expressed its reservation about Italy’s suspicions, which it said are "not based on solid evidence.” The Egyptian prosecution added, however, that it understands the independent decisions taken by the Italian prosecution.

Egypt s Minister of Emigration and Expatriates Affairs Nabila Makram said the Egyptian authorities will follow up on investigations into the murder of an Egyptian teacher in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the Egyptian embassy in Riyadh, according to a statement from the ministry. Hany Abdel-Tawwab, 35, died of injuries in a hospital in the Saudi capital after he was reportedly shot by one of his teenage students following an argument last week. According to local reports, a 13-year-old student, accompanied by his older brother, 16, shot the teacher in the head. The victim was transferred to Riyadh s Sulayyil General Hospital but succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit. Saudi authorities have arrested both suspects. "Makram affirms her trust in the Saudi judiciary and [confidence] that the perpetrator will receive punishment in accordance with the governing laws in the Kingdom," a statement from the ministry read. Makram said authorities will also coordinate with the Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry to accelerate procedures to repatriate Abdel-Tawwab s body to Egypt, as per the request of his family, the statement read. The minister, who extended her condolences to the victim s family, explained that the teacher s body will be repatriated once there are available flights coming from the kingdom and the criminal investigations are concluded.

Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Mohamed Farid inspected on Monday a camp to prepare and train combatants of the Egyptian Second Field Army in North Sinai. Farid conveyed the greetings of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki to the armed forces’ personnel, Army spokesman Tamer El-Refae said. He hailed the combatants efforts to preserve the utmost level of combat readiness to execute the missions they are assigned under any circumstances. Farid also praised the success of the forces in eradicating terrorist hotbeds and helping restore normal and safe life to North Sinai. He called on the forces to observe coronavirus preventive measures during their missions. Farid was accompanied during the inspection by top ranking army officers.

An Egyptian security and diplomatic delegation has arrived at Mitiga International Airport in Libya’s capital Tripoli, Al-Arabiya Breaking reported. The delegation includes an assistant to the foreign minister and the deputy chief of the General Intelligence Service (GIS). According to Libyan reports, the delegation will meet with leaders from the Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez El-Sarraj. The visit comes a week after GIS chief Abbas Kamel visited Benghazi, where he held a meeting with the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and Libyan House Speaker Aguila Saleh. During his visit, he conveyed a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the Libyan people expressing Egypt’s support on various military and political levels. The visit also comes a day after Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar travelled to Libya in an unscheduled visit, flanked by top military officers, Anadolu news agency reported. The visit came after Libyan Commander Haftar called on the Libyan National Army (LNA) to "drive out" Turkish forces supporting the UN-backed GNA.

The leaders of south Libya stressed during a meeting with Egyptian officials their rejection to foreign interferences aiming to undermine Libya’s security, a closing statement read on Wednesday. According to the statement, the Libyan delegation praised Cairo’s continued efforts to bring together Libyan parties, especially amid difficult circumstances in Libya. “We welcome Egypt’s role in converging viewpoints between the parties constituting the Libyan state and in its openness towards them to resolve the crisis impartially,” the statement read. The delegation stressed on the necessity of the unity and territorial integrity of their country through a comprehensive Libyan-Libyan delegation clear of intervention by any foreign parties. An Egyptian consulate will open south of Libya to facilitate services for citizens of both countries, the statement read, mulling the possibility of operating flights between the south’s Sabha Airport and Egyptian airports. The statement comes days after the delegation landed in Cairo for talks with several Egyptian officials on the Libyan crisis and means to resolve it politically, in light of Egypt’s role in supporting the security and sovereignty of the Libyan state. The delegation comprises tens of prominent figures and aldermen from southern cities in the Fezzan province, representing all social stratas in the Libyan south. Libya has been split since 2014 between two rival administrations: the LNA - led by Haftar - in the east, and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in the west, headed by its premier Fayez Al-Sarraj. Egypt has been pushing for a political settlement in Libya and calling for a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of militias, an end to foreign intervention in the country, as well as the fair distribution of wealth. In October, continuing its efforts to advance peace in Libya, Cairo played host to rival Libyan factions -- bringing together delegations from the Tobruk-based Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) and the Tripoli based High Council of State (HCS) -- as they discussed the constitutional components of the political track. In September, Egypt hosted Libyan peace talks in the framework of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada. The efforts pushed by Cairo come months after it proposed a peace initiative dubbed the “Cairo Declaration”, which called for an immediate ceasefire, the election of a leadership council, and the withdrawal of foreign troops in Libya.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said New Year s Eve celebrations will be banned in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus amid the rising daily infection tolls reported recently nationwide. Madbouy instructed all concerned authorities to "strictly" confront violations of the precautionary measures to avoid enforcing a lockdown that will bear negative economic repercussions. "The state will not tolerate any leniency," the PM stressed. He also called for providing an "adequate" number of isolation hospitals nationwide and liquefied oxygen needed for treating the virus patients. The country has been recently witnessing a rebound in coronavirus daily cases and deaths after months of reporting low and steady daily tolls. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health recorded 788 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily toll in almost five months, and 37 fatalities, pushing the total infection tally to 127,061 and death toll to 7,167. In mid-December, Egypt received a 50,000-dose batch of the vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm and is set to receive other batches. During the cabinet meeting, health Minister Hala Zayed said tests for the coronavirus vaccine are being carried out by the National Authority for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR). The NODCAR is expected to conclude the tests by next week, according to Zayed. Zayed added that a website will be launched for people wishing to register to receive the vaccine. Medical staff treating coronavirus patients and people with chronic diseases will be given the priority of vaccination. The health ministry has determined specific medical units across the country to be responsible for inoculating people with the COVID-19 vaccine, Zayed noted. Concerning the new coronavirus variant discovered in the UK, Zayed asserted that there is no proven scientific evidence that links the new variant to the rate or severity of reported cases. She noted that the ministry s health committee following the pandemic development in Egypt has agreed to conduct research about potential genetic changes related to the virus. She added that the ministry has up to 364 hospitals equipped with 35,000 beds, 5,000 intensive care beds and 2,400 ventilators to receive coronavirus patients, with 200 new ventilators distributed recently among hospitals.

A broad Libyan delegation comprised of 75 representatives of all southern Libyan cities has arrived at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday to hold two-day talks with a number of Egyptian officials to discuss the Libyan crisis and means to resolve it politically, in light of Egypt’s role in in supporting the security and sovereignty of the Libyan state.. The delegation comprises tens of prominent figures and alderman from southern cities in the Fezzan province, representing all social stratas in the Libyan south. The Egyptian National Committee Concerned with the Libyan Crisis is set to listen to the demands of the delegation members. The committee will establish means to ensure steady communication with the Libyan south, support Libyan efforts against foreign intervention, in light of the attempts by some forces to bolster a federalist tendency.

Egypt expressed on Monday its condemnation of the missile attack that targeted the Green Zone in Baghdad on Sunday, saying it "fully stands" with Iraq in its fight against terrorism. "Egypt s condemns all terrorist acts that could destabilise Iraq and target the headquarters of diplomatic missions and civilian targets, calling on all parties to uphold the Iraqi national interest over any other considerations, in order to succeed the relentless efforts made by Iraq to protect its security and stability,” a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said. Egypt fully stands with Iraq in any measures it takes to eliminate terrorism and its supporters and to safeguard its national security, the statement added. At least eight Katyusha rockets landed in Baghdad s Green Zone in an attack targeting the US Embassy, causing some minor damage to the compound on Sunday, the Iraqi military and the embassy said on Sunday.

Egypt s coastal city of Hurghada received Saturday evening a flight from Berlin, the first trip from Germany since Egypt reopened its airspace to regular flights in July. The tourist group was given a warm welcome by members of the tourist office of the Egyptian General Authority for Tourist Promotion in Hurghada, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The flight was carrying a total of 125 tourists, the statement added. Iman Mamoud, head of the internal tourism sector at the Egyptian General Authority for Tourist Promotion, said Germany is one of the major sources of tourists for Egypt. Egypt resumed international flights to and from all its airports in July, after a four-month suspension, allowing foreign tourists in tour groups into three coastal Egyptian governorates: Red Sea, Marsa Matrouh and South Sinai. Egypt requires travellers arriving to the country to present a negative PCR lab test result. However, travellers entering Egypt at any of four airports in the Red Sea governorate and South Sinai can take a coronavirus test upon arrival.

Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed left for the UAE on Thursday morning to discuss with Emirati officials plans to supply Egypt with more batches of a coronavirus vaccine. Last week, Cairo received the first batch of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, which was flown from the UAE. The health ministry stated on Thursday that Zayed will discuss with the Emirati side the possibility of transferring vaccine manufacturing technologies to the well-established Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines, known as Vacsera, which is the country s only producer of vaccines and the oldest manufacturer of vaccines In Africa and the Middle East. Zayed will also meet with her UAE counterpart to discuss exchanging expertise with regard to the results of the clinical trials conducted on Covid-19 vaccines, as well as means to bolster bilateral health cooperation, the statement added. Last Thursday Egypt received a 50,000-dose batch of the Sinopharm vaccine. Egypt and the UAE are among 100 countries that participated in phase three clinical trials of the Chinese vaccine. Zayed received two doses of Sinopharm’s vaccine in November during the trials carried out in Egypt. She said the vaccine has proven 86 percent effective against coronavirus, 99 percent effective in producing antibodies, and 100 percent effective in patients suffering from moderate to severe symptoms. The health minister said the government is in talks with Sinovac Biotech to manufacture the Chinese company’s vaccine for Egypt to meet the demand of the public and other African countries. Egypt said the Sinopharm vaccine will be optional and free of charge for all Egyptians, assuring that medical staff, people with chronic diseases, and the elderly will be prioritised.

The UK Middle East minister has praised what he described as “the pivotal” role Egypt plays regionally, saying it represents a pillar for security and stability in the Middle East. James Cleverly, the UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, made his remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with Egypt s Ambassador to London Tarek Adel. Both officials discussed the latest developments in a number of regional issues, including the crisis in Libya and the Palestinian issue, read a statement released by the Egyptian foreign ministry following the meeting. Cleverly told the Egyptian Ambassador that London is looking forward to continuing coordination and consultation with Cairo as an important partner. The meeting also tackled the Egyptian-British relations developments and efforts to strengthen them on various levels, according to the statement. The two sides welcomed the signing of trade partnership deal, which will regulate the commercial relations between both countries when the UK s departure from the European Union takes full effect in January 2021. On 5 December, Egypt and Britain signed a new association agreement that provides a platform to deepen trade and investment relations between the two countries after Brexit by securing free trade. The agreement, expected to enter into force on 1 January after the United Kingdom ends the transition period to leave the European Union, ensures the continuity of preferential access to both markets as it secures the same advantages that have been provided by the Egyptian-European free-trade agreement. Britons voted 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of leaving the 27-nation bloc in a referendum held on 23 June 2016. The British government has signed and agreed in principle trade agreements with dozens of countries over the last two years in preparation for the post-Brexit period starting on 1 January 2021. Cleverly and Adel expressed their keenness to continue pushing forward the bilateral cooperation programs in all fields, most notably healthcare, education and tourism, the statement added.

Egypt has maintained its position as a member at the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for 2021/2022 after it received 170 votes in polls held by the UN General Assembly on Monday. The PBC, consisting of 31 member states, is concerned with backing peace efforts in conflict-affected areas worldwide. “Egypt’s re-election as a member of the intergovernmental advisory body with the largest number of votes affirms the country’s leading peacebuilding role,” said Mohamed Edris, Egypt’s permanent representative to the UN. It also reflects the international community’s trust in Egypt’s capability of providing further contributions in this field, he added. Edris said Egypt had an effective role in the formation of the peacebuilding structure, including the commission, in 2005, and has enjoyed since then an almost permanent membership in the PBC. He referred to Egypt’s peacebuilding efforts worldwide, especially in Africa, and its position in 2016/2017 as the coordinator of the advisory role of the PBC to the security council. The country also chaired the UN Group of 77 and China in 2018. Egypt also chaired the African Union in 2019. Representatives of both Egypt and Romania were also elected as the PBC’s vice-chairs for 2019.

Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has ordered the immediate start of implementing the executive steps of setting up central product inspection laboratories at all sea, air, and land ports nationwide, a statement by the presidential spokesman said on Sunday. During a meeting with cabinet members, El-Sisi said the labs aim to govern and reduce measures needed for custom clearance in a safe and proper manner, as well as limit the number of parties involved in the process. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir, Trade and Industry Minister Nevine Gamea, and Health Minister Hala Zayed. El-Sisi also instructed that labs be electronically linked, the presidential spokesman added. The president called for developing of the current legal and legislative framework regulating the activity of port centres, in line with the comprehensive modernisation plans.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly urged to swiftly accomplish joint projects between Egypt, Iraq and Jordan amid the current challenges that face the Arab region. The premier on Saturday chaired a tripartite talks meeting in the presence of ministerial delegations from the three countries, calling for cementing cooperation with Iraq and Jordan. Madbouly warned that the delay in the implementation of such projects would lead to doubling costs. He pointed out that the members of the three ministerial delegations, which took part in the tripartite meeting held in Jordan, agreed on putting deals signed among the three countries into effect and launching joint development projects in different fields. The premier said it is scheduled that the leaders of the three countries would hold a tripartite summit in the first quarter of the next year. The attending ministers agreed on increasing cooperation in the fields of health, medicine industries, infrastructure projects, electricity interconnection and interchange trade

Mohamed Sharif Abdullah, under-secretary of the Sudanese foreign ministry, has said Sudan would be the country most harmed in case a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is not reached through negotiations. Abdullah’s remarks came in an event organised by the Sudanese foreign ministry in cooperation with the ministries of water resources and information Wednesday to review with ambassadors from Europe and the Americas latest developments on GERD, which has been of concern to Khartoum and Cairo since 2011. Abdullah highlighted the need to continue negotiations on GERD as the “only way” to resolve the ongoing dispute between the concerned countries of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, read a statement released by the water resources ministry following the meeting. Sudan will continue its efforts to explain its stance and the dangers its people and strategic facilities on the Blue Nile face, foremost of which is the 55-year-old Roseires Dam with a height of 78 metres, the statement quoted Abdullah as saying. Sharif affirmed Sudan’s adherence to and respect for the mediation of the African Union (AU) on the GERD issue, hoping that the AU’s efforts can lead to a resolution that guarantees a binding agreement for all parties, in accordance with the latest negotiation mechanisms that the parties agree on. He affirmed the need to grant AU experts a bigger role in ending the dispute between parties to the negotiations, on the basis of the “African solutions to African problems” principle. Reaching a deal among the concerned parties through negotiations would not be a hard task in case they garner the required political will, explained Saleh Hamad, chairman of the technical body of the water resources ministry, and Hisham Abdu Kahen, legal advisor to the negotiation team. There are a limited number of disputed issues among the three countries, compared to points they have agreed on, the two officials said. They added that these remaining issues are technical and related to exchanging information on filling and operating the dam, noting that safe operation of the Roseires Dam cannot be guaranteed unless an agreement on these points is reached. The Sudanese statement comes in line with recent press remarks by Sudan s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who noted that the three countries have agreed on 90 percent of issues concerning the dam. The remaining issues need further discussion and political decisions, he added. Last month, Sudan decided not to take part in a tripartite ministerial meeting on GERD that was scheduled to discuss guidelines for further negotiations, saying that the way previous talks were held proved to be "unproductive." Sudan’s water resources and irrigation minister, Yasser Abbas, stressed last week that his country’s benefits from GERD cannot be achieved without signing a binding legal agreement. Egypt and Sudan have insisted that the three countries sign a binding legal agreement on disputed issues surrounding GERD to safeguard the interests of the three parties, a demand repeatedly dodged by Addis Ababa over the last several years.

In a meeting held Tuesday night at the French Senate headquarters, Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the president of France s Senate, Gérard Larcher, exchanged points of view on latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. Topping the discussion was Egypt s comprehensive vision on the challenges facing the region, particularly combating terrorism and extremist thought along with restoring security and stability in crisis-stricken countries. The meeting also discussed ways to activate cooperative ties, developing bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in fields of tourism, cultural production and development, read a statement released by Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady following the meeting. Larcher told El-Sisi that his country supports Egypt and its "pivotal and balanced" role in the Middle East, assuring that Paris wants to enhance its partnership with Cairo at all levels, especially on the parliamentary front. President El-Sisi expressed his hope that the visit will be a starting point to further friendly relations between Egypt and France, including at the parliamentary level and exchanging expertise between the two nations, according to the statement. El-Sisi started an official visit to Paris Sunday, during which he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and France s defence and foreign ministers, as well as the mayor of Paris and other officials and businessmen.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said more cooperation with France is required to promote tolerance, moderation, and acceptance of others, as he spoke in a state banquet on Monday hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. “There is no doubt that the huge challenges the world is currently witnessing, foremost of which are the phenomena of violence, extremism, hatred of others, intolerance, racism and contempt of religions, impose a huge responsibility for cooperation,” El-Sisi said. The Egyptian president added that cooperation is needed to “counter these negative phenomena and [activate] joint work to enhance the values of tolerance, moderation and acceptance of the other, which are values we desperately need to spread and deepen in the world now more than ever." President El-Sisi is on an official visit to France, where he held meetings with President Macron, the French defence and foreign ministers, and the mayor of Paris to discuss issues of mutual interest and joint cooperation.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Paris on a two-day visit on Sunday evening. He met with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the French foreign ministry s headquarters. El-Sisi and Le Drian discussed on Sunday the latest regional developments, focusing on the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya and Syria, the Egyptian presidency said. According to Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Bassam Rady, Le Drian said El-Sisi s upcoming talks with French President Emmanuel Macron will boost bilateral relations. France, he added, is looking forward to promoting bilateral cooperation in multiple fields and coordinating with Egypt on Middle East affairs. El-Sisi and Le Drian tackled a number of regional files, zooming in on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, and Syria, as well as on crises in some regional countries, Rady added. President El-Sisi stressed that the support of the international community is the way to resolve crises, face meddling attempts, uproot terrorism, and achieve balance among regional countries, the spokesman said. Egypt is keen on boosting its strategic partnership with France as a cornerstone for security and stability in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East, El-Sisi said at the meeting. He added that now is the time to support dialogue between the Islamic and European worlds, with each respecting the differences of the other. Rady added the two sides tackled recent updates of the Palestinian cause and means to revive the peace process in the Middle East.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi headed to France on Sunday to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady announced. The visit comes in response to an invitation from the French president, in light of the two sides keenness to develop and enhance the strategic relations between Cairo and Paris, Rady added. The two leaders will hold discussions on the bilateral relations and joint political coordination concerning regional and international issues. The Egyptian president is also set to meet the French prime minister, a number of other ministers and senior officials, including the presidents of the country s National Assembly and Senate, according to the presidential spokesman. During the meetings, President El-Sisi will present Egypt’s vision concerning a number of regional crises, especially those related to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. He will also discuss means to reinforce cooperation between the two countries, especially in the investment and trade fields, in light of Egypt s efforts to encourage foreign investments in Egypt s major national development projects.

Egypt is expected to receive doses of one of the coronavirus vaccines in May 2021 via the Global Vaccine Alliance and Immunisations (GAVI), the Egyptian cabinet spokesman Nader Saad said in a telephone interview with Extra News satellite channel on Wednesday night. Alongside other international organisations, GAVI aims to guarantee rapid and fair access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, mainly for middle-income and least developed countries. Saad said Egypt will be one of the first countries to receive the vaccine, albeit not before the first half of 2021 as GAVI has already a long list of requests from different countries to get the much-awaited vaccine. "Egypt will be one of the first countries to receive the vaccine but that will not happen in January […] may be in the first half of 2021 in May," Saad said. He added that the global alliance is waiting for the trial vaccines to obtain the necessary emergency approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to fulfil the countries’ demands. The vaccine that receives the emergency approval will be provided to the country, Saad explained. The Cabinet spokesman also noted that the global alliance will help Egypt obtain the vaccine at an affordable price, much lower than the market price. Egypt s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has earlier delegated the Ministers of Health and Finance to take the necessary measures and procedures to contract GAVI in order to provide the country with a 20 million-dose batch of the coronavirus vaccine. The amount would cover up to 20 percent of the country s needs, mainly medical staffers and most vulnerable categories to the disease, according to previous remarks by Health Minister Hala Zayed. According to WHO, there is still no approved vaccine for the disease which has so far caused the death of 6,694 people and infected a total of 116,724 others across the country. Over the past months, Egypt has participated in the clinical trials of two China-made vaccines in cooperation with the Chinese government and other companies.