Egypt's Willingness to Resume Ties with Iran Receives Tehran's Positive
Response
News number: 9001103202 16:27 | 2011-03-30
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9001103202

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran on Wednesday received well a recent proposal by Egypt's
newly appointed Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi for the promotion of the
bilateral ties between the two sides, and said it is ready to resume
relations with Cairo.

"There have been many ups and downs in the two countries' relations and we
hope that under the new conditions we will witness further expansion of
relations between the two great nations," Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar
Salehi said.

He also underlined that there is no doubt that good ties between the two
countries would help restore stability, security and development to the
entire region.

Salehi said that the Egyptian people strived to materialize their justice
seeking moves which was regarded as a new chapter in the country's history.

"We would like to once again congratulate them on the occasion," he
concluded.

Al-Arabi in his first press conference on Tuesday announced Cairo's
preparedness to open "a new page with Iran".

The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran
as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted
relations.

He further stated that the establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the
Iranian side.

Al-Arabi's remarks came after eighteen days of anti-government protests in
crisis-hit Egypt resulted in the historic overthrow of the 82-year-old
former President Hosni Mubarak, who quit on February 11, handing over power
to a military council.

Tehran and Cairo have not had full diplomatic relations since 1979.

Iran severed ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accords
with Israel and provided asylum to Iran's deposed shah, Mohammad Reza
Pahlavi.