US, Egypt resume strategic dialogue

The US and Egypt on Sunday resumed security dialogue after a break of six years with Secretary of State John Kerry saying that bilateral ties will witness strong security and economic cooperation between the two strategic partners amid rising militancy in the Islamic nation.

“The American people are committed to the security and economic <g data-gr-id="33">wellbeing</g> of the Egyptian people,” Kerry said after the conclusion of two-day strategic dialogue along with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.

“The friendship between our countries is not based on some kind of perfect agreement, it’s based on intense awareness of our shared interests in areas of regional security and <g data-gr-id="28">counter terrorism</g>,” he said.

The coming days will witness security, economic, scientific cooperation between the two countries, Kerry said.

The strategic dialogue was the first since 2009. Shoukry said that Egypt and US agree on combating terrorism and extremism.

“We are working on a real partnership with the US in different fields,” Shoukry said.

The bilateral dialogue tackled regional challenges as well as the security situation in Egypt’s restive Sinai, where the military is battling a militant insurgency.

“Egypt and US agree completely that this is a very critical moment and Egypt is been making a significant contribution in this issue,” Kerry said.

Kerry also said that strategical dialogue held in Cairo was successful.

He also condemned the assignation of Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat, Italian consulate attack and the latest Sinai attacks.