Egypt's Sisi denies conspiring against Sudan, Ethiopia

CAIRO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Monday that his country is not conspiring against Sudan or Ethiopia.

"Egypt does not interfere into the affairs of other countries, nor will it waste time in disagreement," said Sisi.

He stressed that Egypt is keen to build positive relations with all countries, stressing that the peoples of Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt need investment not wars.

The Egyptian president pointed out that Egypt is modernizing and building its army to protect peace, not to attack other countries.

Last Thursday, Sudan officially announced that there were potential security threats from Egypt and Eritrea following reported military moves in Eritrea's Sawa area near the border with Sudan's state of Kassala.

This coincided with Sudan's closure of all its border crossings with Eritrea and sending of military reinforcements to the country's eastern border.

On Jan. 4, Sudan said it decided to recall its ambassador to Egypt for consultations.

Relations between Egypt and Sudan have been tense over the past years on various issues, including their difference over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which Ethiopia is building on the main sources of the Nile River.

The two countries also have a territorial dispute over the border region of Halayeb and Shalateen, which are currently under Egypt's control. Enditem