Sisi Receives Russia’s Lavrov in Cairo

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, April 6 (SEE) – President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received Saturday Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at Ettahadiya presidential palace, eastern Cairo, according to Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady.

Lavrov arrived in Cairo on Friday evening.

During his two-day visit, he is expected to hold many meetings with statesmen, most notably his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.

[caption id="attachment_44101" align="aligncenter" width="3600"] Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attend a meeting at Tahrir palace in Cairo, Egypt April 6, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh[/caption]

Before his arrival, the Russian foreign minister gave press statements stressing that Moscow supports Egypt in its war against terrorism.

“Russia and Egypt have several mutual interests and understandings toward threats existed in the Middle East including global terrorism,” Lavrov added.

He noted that dozens of meetings have been held between the two countries recently.

Russia’s FM will head to Jordan after concluding his visit to Cairo.

https://twitter.com/Russia_AR/status/1114102294533025792

Lavrov also will hold discussions with Secretary General of Arab League Ahmed Abul Gheit, according to an official statement.

“As Egypt is presiding over the African Union in 2019, there are plans to discuss practical ways to coordinate preparations for the Russia-Africa summit scheduled to take place in Sochi in October,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as sayings by TASS on Friday.

Russian Aviation Resumption to Egypt

Moreover, Lavrov will discuss the full resumption of Russian aviation to Egyptian international airports of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada.

It’s noteworthy that the Russian aviation to Egypt has been suspended for more than three years, Russian news agency Sputik reported.

Flights were suspended at the end of 2015 after a bomb downed a flight carrying holidaymakers from the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

That attacked, claimed by ISIS, was resulted in killing all 224 people on board, mostly Russian tourists.

In Jan., 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin has decreed to resume flights from Moscow to Cairo.

On April 11, 2018, the first flight of Russia's Aeroflot airlines arrived to Cairo International Airport.