Iran, Egypt Sign Cooperation Agreement on Tourism

TEHRAN, April 23 (FNA)- A number of Iranian and Egyptian tourism companies signed a cooperation agreement in Tehran on Monday.
Chairman of Iran-Egypt Council of Merchants Muhyaddin Al-Gandur announced the news, adding that according to the agreement signed in the Iranian Commerce and Industry Chamber, every month 10,000 Iranians will visit Egypt, while 60,000 Egyptians will visit Iran.

He said that the agreement will be executed as soon as Iran and Egypt appoint ambassadors.

Iran will appoint an ambassador to Egypt in the next six months, a source wishing to remain anonymous in the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

The development came after Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi officially invited Egypt's newly appointed Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.

According to a report by Egyptian daily al-Ahram, the invitation letter was submitted to the Egyptian foreign minister during a meeting between Director of Iran's Interest Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani and al-Arabi.

The report quoted the spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry as saying that Salehi in his message had lauded the recently uttered positive remarks by al-Arabi about the promotion of bilateral ties with Iran.

Al-Arabi in his first press conference last month announced Cairo's preparedness to open "a new page with Iran".

The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted relations.

He further stated that the establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.

In reply, Salehi also said that Iran is ready to resume relations with Cairo.