El Sisi kicks off Russia visit
** #6 El Sisi kicks off Russia visit: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met yesterday the chairman of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Tigran Sargsyan, to discuss a potential trade agreement between Egypt and the EAEU, Ittihadiya said. The sit-down kicked off El Sisi’s trip to Moscow, where he is expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss issues including military cooperation, according to an announcement from the Kremlin. This came as Putin signed an order yesterday greenlighting the signing of “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation agreement” between Egypt and Russia, the details of which have not been disclosed yet.
Also on the agenda: El Sisi is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and will address Russia’s upper house of parliament. Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker is also set to meet today with Rosatom executives to discuss the latest development on the USD 30 bn Dabaa nuclear power plant project.
El Sisi’s meetings will focus on economic cooperation and investment in fields including railway development and energy, Ittihadiya spokesperson Bassam Rady told Hona Al Asema (watch, runtime: 5:02 and here, runtime: 2:32). Masaa DMC (watch, runtime: 3:31) and Al Hayah Al Youm also covered the visit (watch here, runtime: 3:33 and here, runtime: 5:13).
War games underway: The visit coincides with the beginning of Egypt and Russia’s Protectors of Friendship 2018 counter-terrorism drills in Egypt, which will run until 26 October.