Iranian president's statement on bilateral ties positive: Egypt's FM

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Tuesday said Egypt considered as positive President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statements on Iran's readiness to restore diplomatic ties with Egypt, the official news agency MENA reported.

Abul Gheit said he has received a message from Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki about Ahmadinejad's statements, adding that he has sent a message back to Mottaki.

The replying message said Ahmadinejad's statements were positive and would be discussed, alongside the framework of relations, in the coming meetings, Abul Gheit added.

Abul Gheit made similar comment on Ahmadinejad's statements on May 15, right after Ahmadinejad said that Iran was keen on establishing diplomatic relations with Egypt if the Egyptian government wants the same.

Ahmadinejad made the statements after wrapping up his Gulf tour, which took him to Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The peoples of Egypt and Iran are friends, Ahmadinejad said, adding that an earlier announcement on opening the Iranian embassy in Cairo reflected Iran's goodwill.

Iran and Egypt currently only have interests sections in their respective countries after Iran cut ties in 1980 in protest against Egypt's recognition of Israel.

Tehran was also furious after Egypt granted asylum to the last Iranian shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was dethroned in the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution. The shah is interred in a mausoleum in the Al-Rifa'i mosque in Cairo.

Source: Xinhua