Egypt, Bahrain Agree to Consolidate Arab Stance against Foreign Meddling

Sisi and Bahrain’s King meet in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi and Bahrain’s King meet in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egyptian Presidency)
TT

Egypt, Bahrain Agree to Consolidate Arab Stance against Foreign Meddling

Sisi and Bahrain’s King meet in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi and Bahrain’s King meet in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt and Bahrain agreed to develop joint Arab action, which would help protect Arab national security and enhance the ability to address challenges and growing threats, namely foreign interventions.

This came during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's meeting on Thursday with visiting King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

Sisi expressed appreciation of the historical ties between the two countries and stressed keenness on boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields.

King Hamad expressed gratitude for the warm reception by Sisi, praising the solid fraternal Egyptian-Bahraini relations.

He asserted that his current visit to Egypt comes as part of the historical and distinguished relations that bind the two nations, governments, and peoples.

King Hamad further praised Egypt's pivotal and firm role as a mainstay of security and stability in the region as well as its relentless efforts to promote joint Arab action.

The talks underscored the importance of boosting economic and investment cooperation by optimizing all available opportunities.

Moreover, they discussed the latest regional developments, namely in Libya and Afghanistan, in addition to joint efforts to address the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sisi and the king agreed to boost Egyptian-Bahraini cooperation to protect Arab national security, and increase their capabilities against the challenges and threats facing the region.

“The president has emphasized Egypt’s continuing commitment to its constant position on the security of the Gulf and its rejection of practices that strive to destabilize it,” the Egyptian president's office said.

Views were also exchanged regarding the latest developments in the peace process, where the Bahraini King praised the Egyptian efforts to consolidate the ceasefire between the Israelis and the Palestinians and Egypt's initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.



Ex-Tunisian Minister Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Ex-Tunisian Minister Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Criminal Chamber specialized in financial corruption cases at the Court of First Instance of Tunis, sentenced on Friday former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher to three years in prison, the Tunisian official news agency, TAP, reported.
The ruling is part of a corruption case related to breaches in a transaction carried out by the former minister for the purchase of several vehicles.
Investigation showed that the tender conditions were allegedly manipulated in favor of one particulate supplier.
In addition to Mouakher, the Chamber condemned a civil protection executive, seconded to the Environment Ministry, to two years in prison.
The two defendants are found guilty of abusing their functions to obtain an undue advantage, and therefore causing harm to the administration and contravening the regulations in force.
On Thursday, the Criminal Chamber specialized in corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced a security officer to three years in prison and four others to four years in prison on charges of abusing their functions to obtain an undue advantage and harm others.
The five security officers had formed a group for the purpose of attacking property and exploiting a public employee.
According to documents related to the case, surveillance activities revealed that the five defendants, who work at a central department, were involved in seizing private funds, giving night jobs to some department agents, and transferring the profits to their personal accounts.
Their case was first examined by the Financial Chamber, which decided to sentence the five security guards to prison.
The case was later referred to the Criminal Chamber that examines financial corruption cases. The chamber had earlier kept the five defendants at liberty, before issuing late on Thursday the prison sentences.