Egypt, Serbia agree to boost cooperation amid Ukrainian war
Newslooks- BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)
Egypt and Serbia on Wednesday agreed to boost political, economic and other cooperation as the two countries look for ways to deal with the global impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, left, receives the Order of Serbia with a ribbon from his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was in Serbia on a three-day visit this week — the first in more than three decades by an Egyptian president. His host, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, said the visit had a “historic character.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi looks on during a press conference after talks with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
“It will bring so much in the future,” Vucic said at a joint press conference with Sissi. “This is just a beginning.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks during a press conference after talks with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. El-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
The two leaders signed a partnership declaration, Vucic awarded el-Sissi a state decoration and announced plans for a free trade agreement by the end of the year. A business forum was held as officials signed a series of deals focusing on fields of cooperation.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic listens to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during a press conference at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. El-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
“Both our countries should cooperate for better economies in relation to the global events,” said el-Sissi. “Egypt expects stronger cooperation in all fields.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, center left, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, center right, review the honor guard at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Vucic said Serbia will export grain, primarily wheat, to Egypt, which has been hit hard by the price hikes caused by the war in Ukraine. Egypt is among the world’s largest importers of wheat, with much of that from now-blocked Ukrainian ports.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic walks past Serbian Army honor guard before a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Serbia, a candidate country for European Union membership, has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia and has maintained friendly relations with Moscow despite the war. Both leaders said the war in Ukraine was among the topics discussed at their meeting Wednesday.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, right, watches Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry during a ceremony after talks with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
“Egypt is a country that wishes to see everything resolved peacefully and through agreements,” said el-Sissi, who met with U.S. President Joe Biden in Saudi Arabia last week.
Serbian Army honor guard wait before a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
El-Sissi and Vucic also evoked during their press conference the decades-old ties of Belgrade and Cairo as founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement of nations outside the opposed blocs during the time of Cold War divisions.
