The World Youth Forum began its first sessions yesterday, during which President Abdel Fattah El Sisi discussed his government’s effort to support the country’s youth, Ittihadiya said in a statement. Speaking at a session on differences in culture and civilizations, El Sisi said that there is “political will to connect with and listen to the youth” in order to enable them to reach their goals, pointing to his Presidential Leadership Program (PLP) as an example of propelling the country’s youth towards leadership and influential positions. Pardons from some youth now in jail could be in the works after as special committee wraps up its review of case files, the president suggested.

Separately, El Sisi met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the forum yesterday to discuss developments in the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

Also coming out of Sharm yesterday: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry revealed that Egypt and the European Union will hold talks again later this month on how to stem the flow of illegal migrants to Europe, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.