President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi launched the second edition of the World Youth Forum (WYF) in Sharm El-Sheikh on Saturday, with the participation of over 5,000 youths, represented by 60 delegations from all over the world.
During his speech in the forum’s opening ceremony, Al-Sisi thanked Nadia Murad, the Iraqi Yazidi activist and Nobel Peace prize laureate, for her speech stating that he is demanding from the world to denounce the crimes of the Islamic State (IS) group and all terrorist organisations.
Al-Sisi added that 30 million Egyptians mobilised [on 30 June 2013] against discrimination, racism, and fascism.
Nadia Murad spoke about the Yazidi suffering in the Iraqi regions that were under control of the IS group.
Mourad mourned the Egyptian Christian victims who were killed in the terrorist attack against a bus transporting Coptic Christians in Minya on Friday. She also praised Egyptian efforts in countering terrorism and fighting the IS group.
The forum aims to exchange expertise in various fields, through discussing topics of interest to youth on global issues such as sustainable development, technology, entrepreneurship, civilisations and culture, creating future leaders, and water security in the wake of climate change.
On the sidelines of the forum, Al-Sisi met his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the latest updates on the Palestinian issue, and the Egyptian efforts to advance the Palestinian reconciliation.
During the meeting, Al-Sisi stressed Egypt’s support for the two-state solution on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as a capital of the State of Palestine.
For his part, Abbas expressed appreciation for the Egyptian efforts in supporting the Palestinian issue, praising Egypt’s historical and solid role in supporting the two-state solution, as well as reaching a fair and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian issue.
He further asserted that Palestinian authority is working towards ending the internal division, and unifying its people.
