CAIRO: Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for urgent meetings with representatives of European embassies over perceived draconian restrictions on Egyptians seeking legitimate visas.
A statement from the foreign ministry said, “during the past period the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received increasing complaints from Egyptian citizens regarding the rigidity of a number of European embassies and consulates in dealing with the legitimate applications to obtain entry visas to the European Union countries.
The “complaints are related to two major issues; the first of which is the exaggeration in the required documents and guarantees, much more than what is commonly needed to issue an entry visa to any country, the statement continued.
“Secondly, the attitude of the employees of the embassies and consulates in dealing with the Egyptians, which is at some cases characterized by rigidity and inequity, and in others shows lack of decency.
This is not the first time Aboul Gheit has indicated his concern over treatment of Egyptian citizens in European embassies in Cairo. Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said, “Treating the citizen who applies for an entry visa to a European country in an abusive or disdaining manner is utterly unacceptable.
