Egyptian embassy delivers message of "discontent" to Washington

CAIRO - 20 July 2017: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordered Thursday the Egyptian Embassy in Washington to deliver a message of “discontent” to the U.S. Department of State over the issuance of the travel warning to U.S. citizens released on Wednesday.

The ministry’s spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid told the press that the embassy delivered the message.

The spokesperson explained that the warning included terror attacks that occurred years ago with no indication of the time which gives an impression that they are recent. However, a close reading of the travel warnings makes no mention of any specific terror attack that occurred years ago, referring instead to ongoing security issues in northeastern Sinai, recent attacks against Copts and the ongoing flight risks.

Also, the label “violent political opposition groups” used by the Department of State to refer to some terrorist groups is not acceptable, as “any group that uses violence is a terrorist group,” the ministry said. However, the state department’s classification of violent political opposition groups as terrorist does not match Egypt’s list of terrorist organizations.

Furthermore, the ministry objects that the warning stated that terror attacks can occur anywhere in Egypt which is considered “inaccurate” and “detrimental” to the perception of security status in the country, despite the fact that recent terror attacks have occurred in major metropolitan areas and touristic destinations such as Alexandria and Hurghada.

The spokesperson said that this statement also contradicts the fact mentioned in the warning that there is intensive presence of security forces in touristic and strategic areas.

Abu Zeid expressed his astonishment at the Department of State’s attitude toward Egypt, while it does not release travel warnings on other countries where similar terror attacks happen.

“We expect solidarity with Egypt in these conditions,” spokesperson said.

Here is the travel warning released by the Department of State on Wednesday.

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens to consider the risks of travel to Egypt due to threats from terrorist and violent political opposition groups. This replaces the Travel Warning issued on December 23, 2016. A number of terrorist groups, including ISIS, have committed multiple deadly attacks in Egypt, targeting government officials and security forces, public venues, tourist sites, civil aviation and other modes of public transportation, and a diplomatic facility. Terrorists continue to threaten Egypt’s religious minorities and have attacked sites and people associated with the Egyptian Coptic Church.

Terrorist attacks can occur anywhere in the country, including major metropolitan areas. In early May, ISIS media threatened that places associated with Westerners, Christians, the Egyptian military or police, and Egyptian government facilities could be struck at any time. The northeastern Sinai Peninsula remains a particularly dangerous area, with frequent attacks on security forces and civilians. There are also reports of attacks on security forces in Egypt’s Western Desert, the large, mostly uninhabited area west of the Nile Valley, and in Egypt’s border areas. The Egyptian Military frequently conducts counterterrorism operations in these areas.

For security reasons, U.S. Mission personnel are prohibited from traveling to the Western Desert and the Sinai Peninsula. Overland travel is not allowed anywhere in the Sinai Peninsula, but U.S. Mission personnel are permitted to travel to and from Sharm El-Sheikh by air. Mission personnel are prohibited from visiting religious sites outside greater Cairo.