Visit the Political Counselor of the American Embassy in Cairo: “A Consensus between the Republicans and the Democrats on the Particularity of Relations with Egypt”

ECFA Condemns the Recent Terrorist Attacks in Sinai

October 23, 2016

ECFA’s Statement on the American Act of Justice Against the Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA)

November 3, 2016

Visit the Political Counselor of the American Embassy in Cairo: “A Consensus between the Republicans and the Democrats on the Particularity of Relations with Egypt”

On 26^th October 2016, the Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Dr. Monir Zahran, and the Director of the Council Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad received Mr. Eric V.Gaudiosi, the Counselor of the American Embassy in Cairo, in a closed meeting.

Several issues were discussed during the meeting, most importantly: the developments in the Egyptian – American relations, and Cairo relations with Moscow in light of the Egyptian – Russian military maneuvers which recently took place.

Ambassador Saad outlined that recent visits by multiple Congressmen to Cairo reflect the positive developments in Egypt’s relations with the United States. The Counselor commented by noting that the importance of relations with Egypt is an issue of a bipartisan consensus of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Ambassador Zahran inquired about the reasons behind the warning call issued by the American, British and Canadian Embassies for their citizens in Egypt not to go to public places on 9 October 2016 , and if there were credible information justifying that step, especially that nothing happened that day.

The Counselor clarified his country’s position stressing it has to abide by caution in such circumstances. He moved to bring up the issue of the draft Law for Civil Society Organizations, signaling that the draft contains many articles that contradict with American Laws, and prevents the United States -as a foreign donor- from recruiting or mobilizing national labor for projects it finances, a matter that will negatively affect relations between the two countries in case the present draft Law is adopted. Ambassador Zahran responded by saying that the Egyptian Government refuses any foreign interference in the Egyptian internal affairs. Accordingly, it has all the right in imposing criteria and conditions to ensure the prevention of such interference in case it contradicts with Egyptian Laws. He added that the Embassy should convey its vision to the relevant Ministries, at the top of them the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.