Security and political stability are crucial for development and investment in Egypt, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said in an interview with the BBC on Wednesday.

"The Egyptian army is facing terrorism to protect Egypt and Egyptians", Sisi said, adding that no group can defeat a state.

"No room for improving the living standards of Egyptian citizens without a promising economic plan, Sisi said, adding that the problems facing Egypt would need more time to be solved.
President Sisi said "we are working on improving the security and legislative climate before investors".

"Energy problems have been also solved for investors," he said.

The president said "comprehensive awareness is Egypt's largest challenge. It has remarkably developed over the past five years".

"The picture has become more clear now for the Egyptian people," said the president, asserting that "frankness with the people is the best way now".

The Egyptians have their own will, said the president, citing millions of Egyptians who moved for the January 25 and June 30 revolutions".

"The army had to respect the people's will on June 30 because the other option was dangerous and could have led to a civil war," he said.

"There were several warnings in this regard," he said.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi asserted that no group can ruin a state and the elimination of the terrorist organizations is "a matter of time".

Speaking to the BBC, Sisi said the troops deployed in Sinai engaged in the fight against terrorists under a plan that prioritizes innocent lives.

"All affected families in the peninsula receive the due compensation," the president said. "Eradicating these groups is the price for stability and development," he added.

"The situation in Sinai is better. In the past, the armed elements and groups enjoyed freedom of movement," he said.

"Before the deployment of troops, these groups had control on some places in Sinai," he said. "This was unacceptable," he underlined.

"They attempted to hamper the life in Sinai," he said.

The military operation achieved 90 percent of its goals in the anti-terror fight, he added.

Asked about Cairo's plan on economy, the president said an ambitious plan is in place, noting that the country suffered on the economic level for years.

"The huge number of population necessitates much effort to meet aspirations of the people," he said.

The revolution that ran for five years had its effects on the economy, he explained, adding, "a clear plan for 2030 was developed, but the question now was how to make it achievable?"
Efforts are being exerted to stabilize the Egyptian pound, the Egyptian leader told the BBC, adding that officials should be given time to act.

"It's not like once a problem appears, a measure shall be taken. We should leave those in public posts to work," he said.

As for the coming parliament, the president said he will be cooperative as possible as he can with it because "it represents the Egyptian people".

Sisi said he does not deal with the Egyptian people as a president, rather considers himself in "a mission in which he protects his family from any evil".

Asked about national reconciliation and if it was now possible with the Muslim Brotherhood group, President Sisi said "the problem with the MB is with the people who are angry for what the group did".

"They resorted to violence. There were blasts everywhere," he said, adding that the Egyptian people did not forget.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said Wednesday that the state takes advantage of every chance to pardon prisoners.

Speaking to the BBC, president Sisi said the demonstration law was passed by the state to regulate protesting not to pan it.

The freedom of expression is guaranteed under the law, he said. Protests shall be organized to avoid any unacceptable riots or destruction of public property, he added.

Moreover, he highlighted the army's role after the January 2011 revolution.

"The army has played a major role in maintaining stability and saving the country from collapse," the president told the BBC.

The Egyptian army has politically taken an action in 2011 for the first since the 1952 revolution upon request from the people, Sisi added.
Asked about the Syrian crisis, the president said Egypt's stance on it has not changed and will not.

This stance prefer a political solution to the crisis that respects the will of the Syrian people and maintain the territorial integrity of the Arab country, Sisi said.

He stressed the necessity to remove terrorist groups which threaten security and stability.

"This is our stance and will not change toward Syria," he said.

"There is an international effort to reach a solution to the Syrian crisis, and Egypt is part of this effort," he said.

As for Iran and its nuclear program, the president said Egypt "is against any new war in the Middle East as the region is troubled enough".

Egypt is part of the Arab national security, Sisi said. It has no relation with Iran, he added.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said Wednesday that the relations binding Egypt and Saudi Arabia are strong, dismissing reports on possible disputes.

"Egypt and Saudi Arabia are partners in the same coalition in Yemen," he told the BBC, adding, "the Egyptian navy and air forces are there."

"It is not possible to continue depending on aid from other countries," he said answering a question about aid from Gulf states to Egypt.

The president ruled out repeating the story of late president Gamal Abdel Naser who served as second president of the country from 1956 until his death in 1970.

"Egypt is going through circumstances that are different from those happened 50 years ago," he said.

Asked about relations with Qatar, the president said Cairo gives other countries the chance to reassess stances.

"Egypt has never taken steps to negatively develop relations with others," he told the BBC, adding, Cairo see no positive developments in relations with Qatar.

Similarly, he requested Ankara to avoid subjective evaluation of its relations with Cairo, calling for understanding the situation in Egypt and the threats surrounding it.

Source: MENA