President El-Sisi’s Speech at Graduation Ceremony of New Batches from Military Colleges
Thursday, 12 October 2023
The President’s Speeches
Text
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”
The great people of Egypt,
My sons and daughters, the graduates of the military colleges
The heroes of Egypt’s Army
I feel overjoyed, today, as we celebrate together the graduation of a new generation of Egypt’s sons and daughters, who studied, in the Egyptian military school, the principles of patriotism and heroism and the values of dignity and pride. They made an oath to Allah Almighty to dedicate their lives to the homeland and to preserve its land and the resources of its people.
They chose to be the shield of the homeland and its sword, and were armed with faith, knowledge and patriotism in this revered and ancient military academy.
I would like to extend to you my congratulations mixed with all good and heartfelt wishes for joining the ranks of the Egyptian armed forces, thus joining the best soldiers on earth.
It also gives me pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to your honorable families, who, today, are harvesting the fruits of the values and principles they have implanted in your souls and conscience. I am extending tribute to them.
I would like to seize this opportunity, with this honorable gathering, to extend a salutation of appreciation and respect to the righteous martyrs of Egypt, who offered their souls for this homeland to remain, for its dignity to remain preserved, and for its flag to flutter high among the nations.
The great people of Egypt
I direct my speech to you and to all peoples on earth, in clear and precise words and phrases that are not open to misinterpretation.
The verdict of history and rules of geography have shaped the Charter of Arab Honor in the Egyptian conscience. This placed Egypt, always and forever, at the forefront of defending the Arab nation, offering blood and sacrifices, committing all its resources for the sake of the legitimate Arab right.
When it was war, we were fighters .. When it was peace we were the initiators .. we did not fail our Arab nation.. and we will never do.
Today, we are at the heart of significantly grave developments and unyielding efforts by multiple parties who seek to derail the Palestinian issue from its course, which aims to achieve peace based on justice, the principles of Oslo, the Arab Peace Initiative and the resolutions of international legitimacy, and who seek an escalation to deviate from this path toward zero-sum conflicts, where there is no winner or loser. They want conflicts that violate the principles of international and humanitarian law and infringe upon the principles of religions and ethics.
Recognizing and acknowledging that every conflict that does not lead to peace is absurd, I call on all parties to raise the voice of reason and wisdom, and to adhere to the utmost degrees of self-restraint, removing civilians, children and women from the cycle of brutal revenge and return immediately to the path of negotiations, to avoid fires that will be ignited; fires that will not leave anything, far or near, but will burn it.
Egypt is prepared to harness all its capabilities and efforts toward mediation, in coordination with all effective international and regional partners, without restrictions or conditions.
I emphasize clearly that Egypt’s endeavors for peace and considering it as its strategic choice make it imperative for Egypt not to leave the brothers in beloved Palestine, and to preserve the resources of the brotherly Palestinian people and ensure that they regain their legitimate rights.
This is our unequivocal, firm and solid stance. It is not a decision that we take, but rather a belief enshrined in our hearts and conscience. We wish for the voices of peace to prevail to stop the screams of children, the weeping of widows and the crying of mothers. This will not happen except through providing utmost protection for civilians on both sides immediately, working on preventing the exacerbation of the humanitarian situation, and avoiding the policies of collective punishment, siege, starvation and displacement.
I reiterate that it is crucial to spare the innocents from bearing the consequences of the military conflict; this is something that necessitates facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in an immediate manner. And today, the international community has to assume its responsibilities in this regard for the sake of peace .. let everyone work toward this.
Ladies and gentlemen, honorable attendees
Over a period of a decade, Egypt, its army and people have been shaping the future; since the army sided with the will of the Egyptians, and together they confronted the forces of evil and darkness which tried to extinguish the light of the homeland. But it was God’s will for the Light of Egypt to endure and overflow the world with peace and love.
We confronted terrorism and terror .. we embarked on building the institutions .. we encountered challenges with development and construction .. and we will continue to face all challenges with all resolve and steadfastness .. with our national alignment .. fully determined that our beloved Egypt remains at the forefront of nations .. and for our people to enjoy a decent life that they are worthy of.
With its army and people, Egypt will live
Long Live Egypt
Long Live Egypt
Long Live Egypt
May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you
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