Egyptian President thanks Putin for gift in form of defence technologies

MOSCOW, August 26. /TASS/. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has thanked Vladimir Putin for the defence technologies Russia presented to Egypt on the occasion of the opening of a new watercourse of the Suez Canal. "I'd like to use this opportunity and to express sincere thanks for the high level of Russia's representation at the gala ceremonies of opening the new watercourse," where Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev headed the Russian delegation, El-Sisi said. He indicated that the fact had been praised by the Egyptian people and government officials likewise. ‘Let me express gratitude for the naval technologies presented to us, which took part in the opening of the canal’s new watercourse of the (Suez) Canal," El-Sisi said. "It was perceived in Egypt as a signal of well-disposition and amicability of the relationship between our countries." He voiced content with the successes of Egyptian-Russian defence cooperation, especially in what concerns the exchanges of experience and the training of cadres. "I hope for further active efforts in that sphere," El-Sisi said. The new watercourse of the Suez Canal was commissioned for operations on August 6. The official opening was attended by representatives of more than 90 countries. A delegation led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev represented Russia. The Suez Canal that linked the Mediterranean and the Red Sea in 1869 handles more than 22 percent of all the global container shipments at the moment. The decision to build a second watercourse was dictated by rather small throughput capacity of the original watercourse, which is limited to 47 ships a day. Streamlining of commercial operations at the second channel has raised this limit to 97 ships and has cut down the waiting time to eleven hours from the eighteen hours previously. Read more