Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received on Monday Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Cairo at the Presidential Palace.

El-Sisi and Mitsotakis affirmed the need to continue enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of power linkage, trade exchange, and tourism, as they met on Monday in Cairo.

El-Sisi and Mitsotakis highlighted the need for enhancing this bilateral cooperation, especially in light of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact and harm on the economy worldwide, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

They underscored the need for concerted efforts in the face of the negative implications of the pandemic at all levels.

Mitsotakis affirmed that Greece will remain a supporter to Egypt inside the European Union and hailed Egypt’s special regional position and pivotal role.

As they discussed issues of mutual concern, Mitsotakis expressed his country’s appreciation of Egypt’s efforts to reach a ceasefire between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

The Egypt-brokered ceasefire last month stopped 11 days of violence in the Gaza enclave, which killed 250 Palestinians amid Israeli air strikes.

Mitsotakis also hailed the Egyptian initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meeting Egyptian officials before their meeting in Cairo,Egypt on Monday , June 21, 2021. Al-Ahram

El-Sisi reiterated to the Greek premier the need for urgent work to revive the peace negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides on the basis of the international legitimacy resolutions and international law, the statement read.

El-Sisi and Mitsotakis also discussed the developments of the Libyan situation and agreed on supporting the ongoing political path, which should lead to holding the desired elections in Libya by the end of the year.

They also affirmed the need for the exit of all foreign troops and mercenaries from Libyan territories to restore Libyan sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability.

On Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute with Egypt and Sudan, El-Sisi and Mitsotakis agreed on the need to reach a fair, balanced, legally-binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam, the presidency said.

The GERD deal should be secured in a way that meets the interests of the three countries and preserves regional stability, they affirmed.

El-Sisi and Mitsotakis also agreed on the need for the international community to play a serious role in the GERD issue and for all parties of the ongoing negotiations to show good faith and political will.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker and Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad attended the meeting.

The meeting was followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two countries, the presidency said.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during their meeting in Cairo ,Egypt on Monday , June 21, 2021. Al-Ahram

El-Sisi and Mitsotakis discussed means to enhance bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Greece. They agreed on the need to foster joint cultural ties to shed light on the historic relations between the two countries.

The Egyptian president hailed the growing relations between Egypt and Greece in all fields.

El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness to enhance the mechanisms of cooperation with Greece in various fields, especially the political, military, commercial, and energy fields.

The president also expressed his aspiration for boosting the ongoing trilateral cooperation among Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus in a way that achieves their joint interests and goals in the eastern Mediterranean region, which allows them to face various regional challenges.

El-Sisi and Mitsotakis affirmed that the East Med Gas Forum represents one of the most important tools within the framework of the consistency of the two countries’ interests in the eastern Mediterranean region.

The two sides agreed that the forum would open new horizons for cooperation and investments among the countries in the region in the fields of energy and gas.

Established in 2019 as an international organisation headquartered in Cairo, the forum aims to establish a regional gas market in the eastern Mediterranean and enhance trade relations among the member states.

Founding members of the forum announced in March bringing the forum’s statute into force in a ministerial meeting in the Egyptian capital.

The forum’s member states include Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Israel.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis before their meeting in Cairo ,Egypt on Monday , June 21, 2021. Al-Ahram

Mitsotakis affirmed Greece’s appreciation of the firm cooperative relations with Egypt, saying they represent a model of constructive cooperation among Mediterranean countries.

The Greek PM highlighted his country’s keenness to enhance ties with Egypt and also to develop the mechanism of trilateral cooperation with Egypt and Cyprus.

He described this trilateral cooperation mechanism as successful and effective for coordination and achieving economic and social development for the three countries.

Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus over the past years have exchanged high-level visits and phone talks and have set numerous frameworks of cooperation in multiple fields, especially the economy.

In February, Athens hosted the Philia Forum among the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during the Philia Forum stressed that Egypt is keen on boosting cooperation with Cyprus and Greece to meet peoples' interests, especially amid political, economic, and health challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus also signed a tripartite political and economic cooperation mechanism agreement in Nicosia in October 2020.