Egyptian airports ready to receive Russian tourists: minister

SHARM EL SHEIKH - Egypt - 25 August 2017: Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy said on Thursday that the ministry provides only advisory assistance in investigations into the Russian passenger plane that crashed in Sinai in October 2015, killing all 224 people on board.

The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a regional aviation security conference in Sharm el Sheikh.

He said the results of the investigations will take at least two years before being published.

Asked about the return of Russian tourists, the minister said the Egyptian airports are ready to receive tourists from Russia after all security requirements suggested by the Russian side were met.

The requirements should not be an indication for security shortcomings, he said, adding other flights from the EU and the US never asked for similar measures.

Every country has the right to requiring specific security measures to maintain the safety of its nationals moving to foreign countries, he added.