Egyptian President hopes meeting fellow countrymen’s aspirations

CAIRO, February 8. /TASS/. Apprehensions over the fate of the country prompted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah as-Sisi to run for the supreme state post. He said in an exclusive interview with Mikhail Gusman, TASS news agency’s First Director General. "I had fear for my country," the Egyptian leader said. "We’d bumped into challenges and dangers and it wasn’t me who decided to run for the presidential office. I was called upon and given a task to do this and I hope I’ll be able to fulfill it for the benefit of this great nation." As-Sisi said the great Egyptian people had delegated to the post to him. "I you look back, you can say the Egyptians have always been creating civilization and constructing history and today the people of this country, who had fear over a loss of their past and were anxious about their future, ventured to make a resolute step," he said. "I hope I meet the expectations of my fellow-countrymen and I can translate their hopes into life." "But I won’t be able to do this alone and the people should be together with me because this is our common homeland," he said. Egyptian authorities have already enacted certain measures to stabilize the situation in the country. "We’re working to assure stability and security, and given the current situation in the sphere of security and the threats of extremism, this requires huge efforts on our part," as-Sisi also said. "Also, the Egyptians would like to feel there’s a hope for a better future and that’s something we’re working at." "This can be seen in the national projects we’re launching at the moment," he went on. "The government is seeking to create new jobs and to set up the conditions for investors. And if we manage to assure stability and security at a due level and get fair development rates in our economy, this will mean we’re moving forward -- a goal the Egyptians have been pursuing for quite some time." "Lying on my shoulders is the burden of responsibility for this country," as-Sisi said. "All of us are sharing this responsibility. It’s important to rid our land of the threats of all sorts and to enable all the people here to live in peace and security." "That’s the main priority for me right now and in the future and if I manage to fulfill it, that will be a real achievement," he said. "If my homeland grows and develops and the Egyptians’ hopes and aspirations - namely, to live dignified and free lives - come true, this will be the biggest prize for me," as-Sisi said. The interview is to appear in full at TASS website. Read more