Egypt, Italy discuss new leaf in relations

CAIRO – 19 October 2017: Agreements are being discussed with the aim to inaugurate a new start in the relations between Italy and Egypt, Egyptian Ambassador to Italy Hesham Badr on said Thursday.

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Angelino Alfano received the Egyptian Ambassador to Italy Hesham Badr on Thursday; Alfano urged Badr to swiftly sign these agreements to restore the important relations between the two states.

During the meeting, talks focused on the ways dialogue between Egypt and Italy could be reinitiated.

Badr emphasized that Egypt is concerned with deepening the relations with Italy and will not allow any adversaries to destroy this newly reinstated partnership.

Badr also mentioned that Egypt will welcome the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Vincenzo Amendola on October 22.

Amendola’s visit aims to initiate talks between the two sides; aiming to strengthen the bilateral relations in the economic and trade fields, enhance cultural exchange, and establish continuous coordination on issues relating to security and stability in the Middle East.

“Egypt is an important partner and it would be impossible for the two states to continue without having the highest political dialogue between them; both countries’ historic relationships are central in the Middle East,” Alfano stressed.

Last month, Italy decided to send Cantini to Cairo citing that “investigations in the 2016 murder of Italian post-graduate student in Egypt have seen progress due to cooperation” as the reason.

Alaa el-Ghamry, a board member of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association, told Al-Ahram newspaper that the Italian ambassador's return will also ease tensions between the countries and help rectify Egypt's image abroad, thus boosting tourism in Egypt.