Pence, el-Sissi make pledge against Mideast terrorism

Talks between vice-president, Egyptian leader highlight partnership, peace efforts

CAIRO— U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence and Egyptian leader Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi pledged a united front against Mideast terrorism on Saturday as Pence, the highest-level American official to visit the U.S. ally in nearly a decade, began a trip through the region amid a government shutdown in Washington.

Pence told reporters he raised the issue of two Americans who have been imprisoned for years in Egypt and that el-Sissi said “he would give personal attention” to their cases. “We’d like to see our people come home. I made that clear to him,” Pence said before flying to Jordan. Pence and el-Sissi held 2 1⁄ hours

2 of talks at the presidential palace in Cairo, with acknowledgments of friendship and partnership between the two countries. Through a translator, Pence listened as el-Sissi cited the need to address “urgent issues,” including “ways to eliminate this disease and cancer that has terrified the whole world.”

Pence pointed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to forge stronger ties with el-Sissi, “after a time when our countries seemed to be drifting apart.”

The vice-president said that “we stand shoulder to shoulder with you and Egypt in fighting against terrorism,” and that “our hearts grieve” for the loss of life in recent terrorist attacks against Egyptians.

The vice-president noted the deadly attack against Christians in late December, when a militant opened fire outside a suburban Cairo church, killing at least nine people. He also cited the killing of 311 worshippers inside a mosque in northern Sinai last November.

“We resolve to continue to stand with Egypt in the battle against terrorism,” Pence said.

Pence arrived in Cairo hours after the U.S. Congress and Trump failed to reach agreement on a plan to avert a partial federal closure. Pence went ahead with his four-day trip to the Middle East, citing national security and diplomatic reasons.

Pence’s meetings with el-Sissi delved into security co-operation, economic ties and efforts to fight Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

The vice-president called it a “very productive” meeting and said he pressed el-Sissi to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea, urged him to respect religious diversity and told him the U.S. was committed to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.