Continued U.K. suspension of flights “incomprehensible”

CAIRO – 26 February 2017: Egypt has expressed its frustration at the U.K.’s decision not to resume flights to the Egyptian seaside town of Sharm el-Sheikh, calling the decision “incomprehensible” and “unjustified,” the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced

Saturday.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not responded to the statement.

The comment was made by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry after meeting with his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, on Saturday. The duo held a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in order to discuss economic reform and Egyptian-British relations.

The U.K. has been a vocal supporter of Egypt’s efforts to combat terrorism, and its economic reform efforts.

Ahead of the meeting, Johnson said the U.K. is a longstanding friend of Egypt. “We are Egypt’s top economic partner and strong allies against terrorism and extremist ideas,” the

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said

Saturday. “The U.K. is a champion of a renewed Egypt, because stability, peace and growth in this region are the bedrock of opportunity and security for British people in the region.”

The U.K. suspended flights to Sharm el-Sheikh following the downing of a Russian Metrojet flight in the Sinai Peninsula on Oct. 31, 2015. An Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for the downing of the airplane and the deaths of all passengers and crew onboard.

In response, Russia and the U.K., among other countries, suspended flights to Egypt. Russia has since demanded tighter security measures, sending several teams to inspect new security measures at Egyptian airports over the past few months.