ID :
179165
Sun, 05/01/2011 - 14:43
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Iranian FM Confirms Meeting with Egyptian Counterpart

TEHRAN, May 1(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi announced on Sunday that a joint meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil al-Arabi is on the agenda of his future visit to Bali, Indonesia, where he is due to attend a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting.

"Iran, Egypt and Cuba are at present members of the NAM troika and the foreign ministers of the three countries are due to meet and confer with each other on the activities of the NAM in a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Bali, Indonesia" in May, Salehi told FNA.

"During the (NAM) meeting I will meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi to discuss issues related to NAM as well as bilateral issues," he added.

Salehi reiterated that the results of his talks with al-Arabi will be announced in due time.

After the collapse of Hosni Mubarak's regime, the Iranian and Egyptian officials voiced their interest in the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries and Iran's top diplomat Ali Akbar Salehi officially invited Egypt's newly appointed Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.

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.

Egyptian daily, al-Ahram 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 earlier this 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 establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.

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

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