Talks with Fahmy center on trade relations, EU aid

(ANSAmed) – CAIRO, OCTOBER 2 – EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton engaged in talks Wednesday with Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmy, Constituent Assembly chief Amr Mussa and Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb on the first day of her visit to Cairo, the third since former president Mohamed Morsi was ousted in July.

Ministry Spokesperson Badr Abdel Aty said that the talks with Fahmy focused on bilateral relations – especially as concerns trade ties – and EU aid, as well as the regional situation including the Syrian conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the Iranian nuclear dossier. On the last point, the Egyptian minister strongly urged that a conference be called for denuclearization of the Middle East by the coming spring. As concerns the situation in Gaza, Fahmy underscored the need to reach an international agreement to send humanitarian aid to the population. Ashton will be meeting with Egyptian institutional figures during her visit, as well as representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi party Nour. (ANSAmed).