Tunisian president says there will be no intervention in Egyptian affairs

On his first official visit to Egypt, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi called for an increase in bilateral cooperation and stated that Tunisia does not believe in intervening in the affairs of other nations.

“This should be the case with all countries, in order to avoid problems and quarrels,” he asserted.

Essebsi arrived in Cairo on Sunday for a two-day visit with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Counterterrorism was the main subject of Sisi’s address, during an initial joint press conference at Ettehadiya Presidential Palace on Sunday afternoon.

Sisi asserted that regional challenges have become amplified in the last few years as a result of various conflicts in a number of Arab nations, and because of attempts by certain parties to “drag the region to a dangerous place.”

Essebsi said during the press conference, “I met Sisi on several occasions and took note of his genuine nationalism and open mind towards understanding the situation in other countries, and not adhering to the opinions of others.”

Both presidents discussed the situation in Palestine, Libya and Syria, adding that the Palestinian cause would always be a top priority for both nations.

Essebsi said he came to Egypt with an open mind, as the last Tunisian president visited half a century ago. “Our bilateral relations don’t deserve that,” he stated.

Yet, Interim Tunisian President Moncef al-Marzouki met with President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo in 2012. Marzouki was elected by Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly and was in office from 2011 to 2014.

Marzouki expressed concern over Morsi’s ouster and lamented the assumption of power by Egypt’s Armed Forces, putting a strain on Egyptian-Tunisian relations.