Russian, Egyptian presidents hold meeting in Sochi

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi signed a partnership and cooperation agreement in Sochi on Wednesday.

Commenting on the document, Putin said that the agreement implies "the performance of very serious tasks in different domains", including military and technical cooperation.

Putin said Egypt has made commendable efforts for in-flight security but no charter flights are available to the country's resorts for Russian tourists.

Flights between the two countries were suspended after a Russian plane crashed in 2015 over the Sinai Peninsula killing 224 people on board.

Egypt has since then promised to ensure security at airports and on flights.

Putin also invited Egypt to participate in the economic restoration of Syria. The two leaders confirmed their intentions to work on Syria's settlement.

Sisi also called on the UN special envoy for Syria to accelerate the process of the establishment of the constitutional committee for Syria.

The leaders also extended their condolences to the relatives of those killed in the blast in Crimea's city of Kerch.

At least 18 people were killed and 40 others injured in Wednesday's explosion at a polytechnic college in Kerch.

The attacker has been identified as Vladislav Roslaykov, a 18-year-old student, who committed suicide after carrying out the attack, according to region's governor.