Saudi ambassador returns to Cairo after recall to Riyadh
Mon, 17/10/2016 - 12:12 Al-Masry Al-Youm MENA
http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/saudi-ambassador-returns-cairo-after-recall-riyadh

Saudi ambassador to Egypt Ahmed al-Qattan arrived in Cairo on Saturday after
a three-day visit to Riyadh, where he he discussed Saudi-Egypt relations
with government and ministry figures.

Qattan was recalled to Riyadh last week after Riyadh objected to Egypt's
support for a Russian proposal for a ceasefire in Syria. The proposal was
put for a vote at the UN Security Council, along with a competing French
proposal, and Egypt backed both.

The Saudi government, which supports rebels and Islamist insurgents fighting
in Syria, objects to Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The recall of Qattan also followed rumours that Saudi Aramco was halting
supplies of petroleum products to Egypt.

On arrival back in Egypt, Qattan offered his condolences for the deaths of
12 Egyptian soldiers in a terrorist attack in Sinai on Thursday. "Deepest
condolences for Egypt’s victims in Sinai,” he posted on Twitter.

Commenting on the recent tensions between the two governments, International
Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr said that plans for development projects in
Sinai would not be affected.

Saudi investments in Sinai are estimated at over US$172 million, involving
23 companies. South Sinai is in ninth place among those governorates in
which Saudi companies have investments, while North Sinai comes in the 16th
place.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said Egypt does not interfere
in relations between other countries, even when other nations adopt negative
stances toward Egypt.

Asked about the Emirati foreign minister’s visit to Turkey on Sunday, Abu
Zeid said Egypt trusts the stances taken by Arab countries that consider
Egyptian interests.

The Saudi and Egyptian ministries of electricity are currently involved in
negotiations over tenders for electricity transformers connecting the two
nations.

In a statement, Egypt's Electricity Ministry said the project is aimed at
exchanging energy between the two countries, taking advantage of the
different loads between the two countries as result of the different peak
times. Saudi Arabia's peak time is around noon, while in Egypt it is after
sunset.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm and MENA