Sisi Receives Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum’s Delegations Heads

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received Thursday heads of delegations participating in the second ministerial meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum. The delegations praised the Egyptian efforts exerted recently.

“Sisi asserted the geographic importance of the east Mediterranean region amidst latest gas discoveries,” said presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady.

Rady added that the Egyptian president welcomed at Al-Montazah Palace in Alexandria the ministers who will take part in the forum that will be held in Cairo on Tuesday.

On their part, the ministers affirmed the strategic significance of the Egyptian initiative which aims to establish a forum for the east Mediterranean countries.

Moreover, they hailed the Egyptian endeavors, under the leadership of President Sisi for the purpose of launching a regional dialogue on the natural gas affairs.

The presidential spokesman noted that the anticipated dialogue seeks mutual policies between the concerned countries and cooperation on the governments’ levels.

On Wednesday, Egyptian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Tariq al-Mulla received US Energy Secretary Rick Perry on his first visit to Cairo, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon, and Thomas Goldberger, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States in Egypt, along with the accompanying delegation.

The meeting discussed arrangements for holding the ministerial meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum in Cairo.

Mulla stressed that the positive changes witnessed by the oil sector in Egypt have encouraged many major American companies to work and invest in exploration activities in Egypt for the first time.

Perry emphasized Egypt’s role as a reliable source of energy, pointing out that all the expertise and technologies are available to Egypt to enhance its natural position as an important energy hub in the region.

He added that there is a strong willingness on the part of American companies to expand, invest and work in Egypt.

He manifested that the participation of the United States in the work of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum comes in light of the partnership between the US and the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, underscoring the importance of the use of energy to achieve peace.

The energy ministers of Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and Palestine gathered in Cairo on January 14 to inaugurate the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum.