Russia Fully Supports Egypt's Counter-Terrorism Efforts - Foreign Minister

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th April, 2019) Russia fully supports Egypt's efforts in counter-terrorism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"Moscow fully supports Cairo's efforts in counter-terrorism activities, including the stabilization of the situation in Sinai. We believe that the elimination of the extremist and terrorist groups that are active on the peninsula, who wish to spread their influence into other regions of the county and destroy Egyptian society, is in the interests of not only the Egyptians themselves but also for all the countries in the middle East," Lavrov told Egyptian news outlet Al-Ahram.

Lavrov also said that Russia was working with Egypt in the field of counter-terrorism.

"Russia and Egypt have a common understanding of the threats that are posed within the Middle East region.

International terrorism is one of them. We are currently holding expert consultations and working visits with our Egyptian partners in this field and participating in joint counter-terrorist training," Lavrov said.

In addition, the foreign minister said that terrorism could only be eliminated through the concerted efforts of the international community based on international law agreements.

Egypt has been conducting an ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the country's north Sinai Peninsula since February 2018. According to the country's military, hundreds of Islamic militants, linked to the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) who are operating there, have been detained or killed through the operation.