Egyptian, Russian foreign ministers meet in Cairo

Egypt and Russia are renewing bilateral relations as Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday May 29, in Cairo.

The both ministers discussed bilateral and regional issues, including negotiations on the resumption of flights between Russia and Sharm al-Sheikh after a nearly 18-month halt.

Russia stopped direct flights to the Red Sea resort in 2015 after a Russian airliner carrying 224 passengers was blown up over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula by a bomb.

A group affiliated with Islamic State (ISIL) claimed responsibility.

A statement from Egypt’s foreign ministry said both ministers were keen for the return of Russian tourists to Egypt and discussed ways to revive trade between the two countries.

Lavrov also held talks with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

According to Russian state news agency Sputnik, Gheit told Lavrov that the Arab League supported the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria,
but warned that it should not lead to the country’s “fragmentation”.

Russia, Turkey and Iran on on May 4 agreed in a memorandum to establish four separate zones in Syria where hostilities between Syrian government forces and armed opposition groups are halted for at least six months. The guarantors are expected to finalise maps of the de-escalation zones by June 4.