CAIRO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Wednesday that the upcoming economic reform measures will not be as harsh as those that have already been implemented in the country.
He made the comments in a speech during a celebration of the National Police Day, where he praised and saluted the Egyptian people for enduring the hardships brought about by the country's austerity measures.
"The economic reform program was undoubtedly harsh, but it was a decisive response to the challenges and circumstances that had led our economy to the situation it was in," Sisi said.
Sisi also said that the challenges faced by Egypt in recent years have been some of the most difficult ones in its modern history.
"For the past few years, we have faced great difficulties and challenges, perhaps the most serious in our times, represented in the attempts by forces of darkness and evil groups to hinder our path and terrorize our safe society," Sisi said.
He affirmed that the state will continue to carry out its duties on all levels, which involve combating terrorism, reinforcing the rule of law, empowering state institutions, achieving comprehensive development and promoting the principles of tolerance, coexistence and citizenship.
The National Police Day marks a battle fought by police forces in 1952 against British occupation forces in Ismailia City on the west bank of the Suez Canal.
The British occupation, which ruled Egypt from 1882 until 1956, had issued a warning to Egyptian forces to evacuate the area so they can take full control of the Canal, but the police forces stood their ground.
Dozens of police personnel were killed and over 80 others were injured in the Ismailia battle.
