(AFP PHOTO / HO / EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY)
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi spoke Sunday with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state leaders from Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the presidential office said.
Al-Sisi reportedly told Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Seoud that “malicious attempts aimed at undermining the stability of the region and unity of the Arab nation”. This was in reference to embarrassing leaks revealing a conversation between Al-Sisi and his aides undermining Arab leaders.
In the recordings, aired on pro-Islamist channel Mekameleen, Al-Sisi was allegedly heard speaking to his former head of office Abbas Kamel and Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mahmoud Hegazy. The alleged recordings, which said to have been recorded before his announcement to run in the presidential elections, included remarks including:”the Emirs have hundreds of billions, let’s take some from the UAE or from Kuwait, let’s focus on mutual benefits rather than Arab unity and all that…”
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb said in a Saturday night phone interview with private channel Al-Hayah that Egyptians will not believe “what is being repeated on the Muslim Brotherhood channels, including leaks or anti-government statements”.
Similarly, Al-Sisi’s call to the Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, stressed upon gratitude for the significant contribution of his state in pushing forward the Egyptian economic wheel.
Al-Sisi also spoke with Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and King Hamad bin Eissa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain of the positive relations following thanks to their support of the 30 June leadership change.
Following the ouster of Mohamed Morsi on 3 July 2013, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE supplied Egypt with $12bn, supporting several fields including petroleum and logistics. Last month, Al-Sisi visited the three GCC countries.
