(AFP Photo)
The British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for a two-day visit. His visit will include a meeting with Mohamed ElBaradei.
According to a statement by the British embassy in Cairo Burt will meet with “senior Egyptian officials and representatives from political parties and movements, as well as civil society”. ElBaradei’s spokesperson confirmed that he will meet with Burt on Wednesday.
In these meetings Burt is expected “to discuss issues of mutual interest including the current political developments in Egypt and the region and economic cooperation as well as the current human rights situation”.
On his arrival Burt highlighted the importance of the British-Egyptian relations, stressing continued British support for Egypt’s ongoing political transition. He said one example of this support is that Britain is the “largest source of foreign direct investment in Egypt”.
“I am here in Egypt to explore further the kind of additional support that the United Kingdom, including through our presidency of the G8, can provide Egypt,” he added.
Prime Minister David Cameron promised President Mohamed Morsi that Britain would work towards returning $160m of Egyptian assets that were frozen during the 25 January revolution. The pledge included setting up a Cairo-based taskforce which is working towards returning the assets.
