Call to tackle terror

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi made a strong appeal for a joint strategy against terrorism as he opened a landmark Arab-European summit yesterday. Mr El Sisi also called for a framework allowing “organised and safe” migration to Europe, for the benefit of both regions. “We need a joint vision to deal with the dangers since it is clear that it’s difficult to do so unilaterally,” he told the leaders of Arab League and EU states gathered at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh for the two-day meeting.

Mr El Sisi, who has invested significant time and effort since taking office in 2014 to cultivate close economic and security ties with Europe, said the summit was proof that what brings the two regions together outweighs what separates them. The unprecedented, 50-nation meeting is the fruition of more than a decade of talks between representatives of the Cairo-based League and the EU, with the first round taking place in 2008. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is attending the summit along with the delegation from the Kingdom.

The Saudi delegation is led by King Salman, while the UAE’s representatives are led by Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah. Representatives from the EU side include European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and heads of government from Germany, Britain and Italy, among others. Mr El Sisi said the two regions must agree on a joint strategy to counter terrorism, warning that anything short of that was destined to fail.

“Regrettably, terrorism has become a tool used by some nations to create chaos in their neighbours to gain a stature that comes at their expense,” he said, in a thinly veiled reference to Qatar and Turkey, which have long been accused of supporting extremists. Mr El Sisi said failure to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict would also have bad ramifications for both regions. He said settling that conflict would deny the “forces of extremism and terrorism” the chance to recruit youths raised amid strife and violence.