Macron to openly speak to Sisi on Egypt rights

CAIRO - French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he would talk "more openly" to Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on human rights during his ongoing visit to the country.

"Things have got worse since October 2017" when Sisi came to Paris, said Macron, referring to the human rights situation in the North African country.

Macron said he would "have a confidential dialogue" with his Egyptian counterpart on "individual cases" of imprisoned opponents.

"I will speak in a more forthright manner, including openly... because I think that it is in the interests of President Sisi and Egyptian stability," the French head of state told reporters on the first day of his visit.

Egypt's government has "relatively authoritarian characteristics that are presented by leaders as necessary to avoid instability, in particular by the Muslim Brotherhood," Macron said.

"I hear that and I respect it," he said.

"Today, it is not simply political opponents who are imprisoned but also opponents who are in the traditional democratic camp, who do not threaten the stability of the regime.

"These are journalists, homosexuals, women and men who have convictions but who seem to pose absolutely no threat to the regime."

This government was perceived by Egyptian civil society as "more hardline than the regime of (former president Hosni) Mubarak," Macron said, referring to the former autocrat who was deposed in 2011.

"My line is - stability and respect for sovereignty. But what is happening here threatens" Egypt's stability, Macron said.

But "deciding to end all forms of cooperation for these reasons would drive Egypt even more quickly towards Russia or other powers, who are just waiting for that", he said.

Macron is due to meet Sisi at Egypt's presidential palace on Monday morning.