LAS-EU Summit: Sisi Receives Romanian President in Sharm El-Sheikh

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Feb. 23 (SEE) – President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received his Romanian Counterpart Klaus

Iohannis in Sharm El-Sheikh resort city where the LAS-EU Summit will be held,

according to Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady.

Rady noted in a press statement on

Saturday that Sisi warmly welcomed Iohannis and expressed sincere appreciation

to the Romanian president's participation in the Arab-EU Summit slated to be

launched within hours, on Sunday, in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady- Press Photo

"Sisi lauded the

Egyptian-Romanian relations and described them as stable and growing,"

Rady added.

He revealed that the economic,

commercial and tourism relations have been upgraded recently as the Egyptian-Romanian

trade reached up to $1 billion in 2018, as well as increasing tourism flights

to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada cities.

On his part, Iohannis emphasized

that Romania is looking forward to boosting bilateral ties with Cairo at various

levels, adding that "We welcome the Egyptian hosting of the LAS-EU Summit

in Sharm El-Sheikh."

"Egypt plays a liaison role of

a liaison between two great civilizations; Arab and European," the

Romanian president said.

The Arab-European Summit is also

known as LAS-EU Summit. LAS stands for the League of the Arab States, while EU

stands for the European Union.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Romanian Counterpart Klaus Iohannis in Sharm El-Sheikh- Press Photo

The summit will be co-chaired by President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and

President of the European Council Donald Tusk.

The participants will discuss mutual challenges and boost bilateral

cooperation opportunities.

This is the first ever platform that brings together the Arab and

European heads of state and government to tackle the pressing issues, atop of

which terrorism, organized crime and illegal immigration. 

Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA)

Ambassador Munir Zahran told MENA that the summit represents a great

opportunity for enhancing the Arab-European cooperation and dialogue, where

they will discuss problems of mutual concern and exchange views on various

regional and international issues. 

On February 18, Sisi said that “Sharm El-Sheikh conference is a key step towards more cooperation that will be followed by other steps,” adding that the instability of some Arab countries led to the illegal migration to Europe.  The meeting is expected to end with a press conference on Monday, Feb. 25. It will take place in the International Congress Centre in Sharm El-Sheikh. 

Workers prepare the International Congress Centre a day before the first EU Arab League Summit starts in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, February 23, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany