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Middle East and North Africa

Egyptian defence minister leaves for first foreign trip after June 30 Revolution

The visit will be a response to the trip to Egypt by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Egypt on November 14

Abdel Fattah al-Sissi EPA/KHALED ELFIQI

Abdel Fattah al-Sissi

© EPA/KHALED ELFIQI

CAIRO, February 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Fahmy and Defense Minister Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sissi have left for Moscow on an official visit, Egyptian mass media report.

This will be al-Sissi’s first foreign trip to Russia after the June 30 Revolution when the army removed President Mohamed Morsi from office.

The ministers will take part in a meeting with the 2+2 format due to be held in the Russian capital on February 13, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

Spokesman to the Egyptian Armed Forces Ahmed Mohamed Ali said, “The visit will be a response to the historic trip to Egypt by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Egypt on November 14. The purpose of the visit is to discuss bilateral relations and prospects for strengthening military, political and economic cooperation.”

During the first meeting in the 2+2 format the ministers determined the priorities for mutually advantageous cooperation in the trade, economic, military and military-technical fields. They confirmed their commitment to strengthening partnership to resolve key international and regional problems, and to develop and strengthen Russian-Egyptian cooperation.

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Middle East and North Africa

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