Ashton in Cairo to focus on Egypt-EU ties

Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Aati said Tuesday that EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, due in Egypt later today, will hold talks with officials on means of activating ties with Cairo at the financial, trade, economic and social levels. The talks will also focus on the latest developments in Egypt, especially the road map agreed by Egyptian political powers, as well as security challenges facing the country. Ashton is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on Wednesday, Abdel-Aati said, adding that she will hold talks with Interim President Adly Mansour on Thursday. She will also get together with Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawy, Defence Minister Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi and Deputy Prime Minister Zeyad Bahaa el-Din, the spokesman said in statements to reporters. Ashton will also sit with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr Ahmed el-Tayyeb and Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, as well as representatives of political powers, Abdel-Aati added. He said that the Syrian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations will also figure high at the talks. Asked if Ashton is here to broker any deal or monitor the internal situation, Abdel-Aati stressed that such a thing cannot be accepted. Foreign mediation in internal affairs is not welcome by any means, the spokesman asserted, adding that achieving reconciliation is the responsibility of Egyptians alone. The Egyptian people only have the right to monitor the internal situation and determine their future, Abdel-Aati said. He denied reports that Ashton had asked to meet with former president Mohamed Morsi, stressing that this request would be "unacceptable". Asked if Ashton will be meeting with representatives of the Freedom and Justice Party, the spokesman said that she only meets FJP leaders that are not facing charges. Source: MENA