Cairo, Jan 21 (AP) Vice President Mike Pence and Egyptianleader Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi pledged a united front againstMideast terrorism as Pence, the highest-level Americanofficial to visit the US ally in nearly a decade, began a tripthrough the region amid a government shutdown in Washington.
Pence told reporters that he raised the issue of twoAmericans who have been imprisoned for several years in Egyptand that el-Sissi said "he would give personal attention" totheir cases. "We'd like to see our people come home. I madethat clear to him," Pence said before flying to Jordan.
Pence and el-Sissi held two and half hours of talks atthe presidential palace in Cairo, with acknowledgements offriendship and partnership between the two countries. Througha translator, Pence listened as el-Sissi cited the need toaddress "urgent issues," including "ways to eliminate thisdisease and cancer that has terrified the whole world."Pence pointed to President Donald Trump's efforts toforge stronger ties with el-Sissi in his first year in office,"after a time when our countries seemed to be drifting apart."The vice president said that "we stand shoulder toshoulder with you and Egypt in fighting against terrorism,"and that "our hearts grieve" for the loss of life in recentterrorist attacks against Egyptians.
The vice president noted the deadly attack againstChristians in late December, when a militant opened fireoutside a suburban Cairo church, killing at least nine people.
He also cited the killing of 311 worshippers inside a mosquein northern Sinai last November.
"We resolve to continue to stand with Egypt in the battleagainst terrorism," Pence said.
Pence arrived in Cairo hours after the US Congress andTrump failed to reach agreement on a plan to avert a partialfederal closure. Pence went ahead with his four-day trip tothe Middle East, citing national security and diplomaticreasons.
Pence's meetings with el-Sissi delved into securitycooperation, economic ties and efforts to fight the IslamicState group. The vice president called it a "very productive"meeting and said he pressed el-Sissi to cut diplomatic tieswith North Korea, urged him to respect religious diversity andtold him the US was committed to the Israeli-Palestinian peaceprocess.
His visit to the region came more than a month afterTrump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem asIsrael's capital, a step that's enraged Palestinians. El-Sissiidentified "the peace issue" as one of the most importantissues in their discussions.
"We heard President el-Sissi out," Pence said. "He saidto me about what he said publicly about a disagreement betweenfriends over our decision to recognise Jerusalem as thecapital of Israel."Pence said he assured el-Sissi that "we're absolutelycommitted to preserving the status quo with regard to holysites in Jerusalem, that we have come to no final resolutionabout boundaries or other issues that will be negotiated. ...
I reminded President el-Sissi that President Trump said thatif the parties agree, we will support a two-state solution. Myperception was that he was encouraged by that message."When Pence's motorcade arrived at the palace, journaliststraveling with the vice president were initially barred fromexiting their bus. After they were taken into the palace,media were not allowed into a photo session with the twoleaders. Negotiations between US and Egyptian officialsfollowed, and Pence personally requested to el-Sissi thatAmerican media be allowed to cover the event. Members of themedia were eventually taken into the meeting and heard theleaders deliver short statements.
Pence was meeting Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah IIin Amman and visiting with U.S. troops in the region. He wastraveling to Israel later Sunday but was not expected to meetwith Palestinians officials.
El-Sissi has built a strategic alliance with Trump andurged the American president to become more involved in thefight against Islamic militancy in the Middle East. Trump haspraised el-Sissi for the April release of Egyptian-Americancharity worker Aya Hijazi, who had been detained for nearlythree years. (AP)AJR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.