Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said, on Tuesday, that Egypt was aware of regional changes and built a solid fence of strength to protect its citizens, supported by its Armed Forces.
During the 33rd cultural symposium of the Armed Forces, held to mark Martyr’s Day, Al-Sisi said that, in the last decade, the world had witnessed many changes. These lead several stable and secure regional countries along the path of sabotage, destruction, and violation against their sovereignty.
He expressed his keenness to meet with the families of the Egyptian martyrs and those injured in the military operations, saying, “The martyrs gave their lives so that we can live in peace and security.”
During the ceremony, the President honoured a number of veteran leaders of the Armed Forces and the families of martyrs. He also honoured the families of some doctors who had died in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He extended his thanks, respect and apparitions for the families of the martyrs.
In a different context, Al-Sisi said that working in agricultural requires large numbers of people to work on the land. He pointed out that any encroachment on Egypt’s agricultural lands will mean that many job opportunities are lost.
The President added that Egypt is looking to change the living conditions for its people through the ‘Decent Life’ initiative that aims at developing villages. He noted that building on agricultural land will greatly harm the country, and emphasised that addressing unplanned areas had cost the state exorbitant sums.
Al-Sisi said that new cities along with the New Administrative Capital (NAC) have previously been meant to open, but were postponed for 12 months due to COVID-19. He noted, however, that “we must prepare for this matter”.
He asserted that the NAC’s opening, and the transfer of government facilities and entities, is similar to declaring a new republic.
Earlier, the President delegated Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki to lay a wreath at the Memorial of the Armed Forces Martyrs in the Nasr City district of Cairo.
This came as part of celebrations of Martyr’s Day, according to an official statement by the Egyptian Military spokesperson. Zaki was accompanied by Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Mohamed Farid, according to the statement.
Martyr’s Day is celebrated on 9 March every year, and marks the martyrdom of former Chief-of-Staff Abdel-Moneim Riad on that date in 1969.
Meanwhile, Zaki delegated the heads of different military regions to lay wreaths at Unknown Soldier Memorials nationwide, accompanied by the heads of security directorates and local governors.
