Sisi to Jumblat: Domestic Front Must be Fortified to Preserve Stability
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday called for fortifying the “Lebanese domestic front,” warning that some parties might exploit religion to create a fertile environment for “the growth and proliferation of extremist ideologies.”
Sisi voiced his remarks during a meeting in Cairo with Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat, who was accompanied by a delegation from his Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc.
The president stressed to his guests “the need to fortify the Lebanese domestic front in order to preserve Lebanon's unity and stability,” state-run newspaper al-Ahram quoted presidency spokesman Ihab Badawi as saying.
“Although the diversity of religious sects can provide an environment for intellectual and religious prosperity, some parties are trying to exploit that to sow discord and create divisions,” Sisi added, in an apparent reference to the banned Muslim Brotherhood group.
The Egyptian leader cautioned against “taking advantage of religion to make it a tool aimed at imposing control and authority over the Arab peoples … and spreading extremist ideology, violence and terrorism.”
For his part, Jumblat briefed Sisi on the heavy repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, “especially in light of the vacancy in the presidential post,” hoping the Lebanese parties will soon be able to “reach an agreement over a new president, who would contribute to strengthening its security and stability.”
The PSP leader highlighted “the focal role that Egypt is playing in the region at the political level as well as its role in spreading moderate Islamic thought and combating extremism and terrorism.”
Jumblat also called on Egypt to “contribute to bridging differences among the various parties in the Middle East region in general and in Lebanon in particular.”
Y.R.
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