Tiny nations should mind their own business: Sisi

Alexandria - Egypt calls Qatars bluff. Egypt President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi on Saturday mounted a scathing attack on Qatar saying its leaders better take care of their nation than poking their nose in the affairs of other countries.

Opening the Mohamed Naguib Military Base and attending the graduation ceremony of military cadets west of Alexandria, Sisi made fun of Qatar without mentioning the country by name, referring to the size of a country which is taking on a Middle East giant like Egypt.

"The countries that intervene in our domestic affairs want to diminish the morale of Egyptians, which will never happen. When we say we do not want anybody to interfere in our internal affairs, it is a legitimate matter."

"You really want to meddle in Egypt's affairs? Let me tell you that Egypt has 90 million people who consume food and drinks a day that other countries consume in a year," he said.

"When we open the door for our citizens to apply for a low-cost house, almost one million Egyptians submit their applications. This number is equal to the total number of the population of a country," Sisi said.

"So it is better for you to focus on your country than ours," the president warned.

The ceremony was attended by leaders of the four countries boycotting Qatar, including His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Upon his arrival, Sheikh Mohamed was received by President Sisi and Egyptian Defence and Military Production Minister Sedki Sobhy, along with a number of military commanders.

Sheikh Mohamed and Sisi decorated top graduates with the Medal of Military Duty and congratulated them on their performance.

Sisi welcomed the Arab leaders on behalf of the Egyptian people. He stated that the attendance of Arab leaders at the ceremony was a "proof of the unity between the Arab countries".

• MENA
• Qatar Crisis
• MENA