Iran-Egypt rapprochement plan back on track?

Wed Oct 14, 2009

In what appears to be a step toward the normalization of relations between Iran and Egypt, the two sides hold high-level talks in the red sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and his Egyptian counterpart Habib Ibrahim el-Adly discussed a wide range of regional issues on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of interior ministers of Iraq's neighbor states.

"Iran and Egypt have many areas of common interest," said Mohammad-Najjar.

"Radical ideas that prevent the betterment of ties between Cairo and Tehran should be cast aside," said the Iranian Interior Minister.

El-Adly agreed that "minor issues should not get in the way of Iran-Egypt relations," and added that his country was keen on improving economic and trade ties with the Islamic Republic.

Diplomatic ties between Iran and Egypt were severed in 1980 due to Cairo's recognition of Israel and its signing of a peace treaty with Tel Aviv.

Despite their contrasting views, Tehran and Cairo took steps in 2007 to fully restore diplomatic relations.

Normalization efforts were put on hold in the wake of Israel's three-week attack on the Gaza Strip, which left nearly 1,400 Palestinians dead.

The Tehran government strongly criticized Cairo's complicity with Israel in the imposition of its blockade on the bomb-scarred Gazans.

In response, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak accused the Tehran government of meddling in Arab affairs and trying to dominate over the whole region.

Iranian officials have dismissed the allegations out of hand.

“We have always supported and respected Arab countries,” said Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. “We believe regional countries should set aside their differences and join forces to ensure the Middle East's security.”

Israel is said to be attempting to take advantage of the current tension between Egypt and Iran to build a coalition and unite Arab nations against Iran.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/108678.html.