Sisi Witnesses Biggest Air Force Exercise

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has addressed a message of appreciation and apology to North Sinai citizens, calling on them not to allow anybody to drive a wedge between them and the rest of the Egyptian people, who are indivisible.

The president said more measures will be taken for evacuating the border area, adding compensations which are paid to Sinai residents could reach one billion pounds.

This came in a statement on the sidelines of the Air Force exercise, in which more than 250 aircraft of all types in cooperation with units of paratroops, Shock Force and the Central Military zone, took part within the Badr 2014 maneuver.

Sisi said that Sinai residents have shown patriotism following the terrorist incident at Karam al-Qawadis. "For this reason, we should wholeheartedly support them," the president stressed.

The president said the Egyptian army was keen not to spell blood but others were keen to do the contrary out of their belief that they could separate Sinai from the homeland and turn it into an emirate that could serve as a thorn in Egypt's back when this becomes necessary.

Sisi added that nobody can infringe upon the institutions of the Egyptian State. Nobody can infringe upon the police or the judiciary, he said, adding media should be free and patriotic.

Sisi said the Egyptian army is patriotic, faithful and honorable and it did not conspire against anybody, but it had protected Egypt.

He also hailed the efforts exerted by the armed forces personnel to protect Egypt's national security on all fronts and strategic directions. He asserted that Egypt's security and stability lie in the possession of strong armed forces, which are capable of confronting all forms of potential threats and hostilities.

The president said this maneuver comes at the time when Egypt is waging a battle of existence.

The terrorist incident in Karam al-Qawadis cannot be separated from the battle of existence Egypt is waging ageist terrorism, he noted, stressing that nobody can break the will of Egypt and its army.

Sisi said the armed forces work only within Egypt's borders, adding the safety and territorial integrity of the Arab region and securing Egypt's borders are the main assignments of the Egyptian army.

The President explained that despite the fact that the operations of the Egyptian army are restricted to the Egyptian borders at the present time, the Egyptian army is ready to safeguard "our Arab brothers".

The president expressed deep resentment over the rumors aimed at twisting facts by claiming that the soldiers who were killed in Sheikh Zuwayyed had been killed in Libya and not in Sinai. This aims to cast doubt over our credibility, he said.

"We can't lie to the Egyptian people. That treacherous terrorist operation was aimed at raising doubts over the capabilities of the Egyptian army following the announcement of Badr 2014 maneuver which has managed to achieve its targets", the president underlined.

Sisi said it is not acceptable that power outage next summer will be at the same rates of the last summer, adding Egypt is in need of 12,000-15,000 megawatts that cost $ 15 billion.

Addressing the Egyptian youths, the president said "I need your efforts in re-building Egypt."

He said any official who does not know that we are engaged in a battle of existence should leave his post and go as the challenges are immense and Egypt does not have the luxury of waiting.

As for the coming parliamentary elections, Sisi said ''we want to observe the roadmap and the parliamentary elections will be held in time and will be secured by both the army and police for the people to elect their representatives freely."

He said the members of the coming parliament should love Egypt, adding he is ready to encourage all political powers and parties. He also called for giving greater attention to youth.