http://tehrantimes.com/politics/105435--iran-egypt-call-for-increased-cooperation-
Wednesday 06 February 2013
Iran, Egypt call for increased cooperation
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TEHRAN – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday began a
historic visit to Egypt, where he will attend a summit of heads of state and
government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The two-day summit is scheduled to open in the Egyptian capital today.
Ahmadinejad, the first Iranian head of state to visit Egypt in 34 years,
was received by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi upon his arrival at Cairo
International Airport.
During their meeting, Morsi called Iran an important country, adding that
the Syrian crisis cannot be resolved without Iran’s involvement in the efforts
to improve the situation, the Persian service of the Fars News Agency reported.
According to the report, Morsi also said that the two countries should
enhance their cooperation.
Ahmadinejad described Iran and Egypt as two influential countries in the
region, emphasizing the importance of expansion of relations between the two
countries.
The Iranian president also met with Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb
hours after his arrival in Cairo.
The Islamic Republic of Iran cut diplomatic ties with Egypt in 1980 after
the Islamic Revolution of 1979 because Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel
and offered asylum to former Iranian dictator Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Morsi visited Iran in August 2012 to attend a summit of the Non-Aligned
Movement. It was the first visit of an Egyptian president to Iran in more than
three decades.
Relations between Iran and Egypt began to thaw after the election of
Morsi, who assumed office on June 30, 2012. However, full diplomatic relations
between the two countries have not yet been restored.
EP/PA
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