Eurasia Press & News
Russia’s foreign and defence ministers will travel to Cairo next week for joint talks with their Egyptian counterparts about weapons sales and political relations, a Russian official said on Friday.
Moscow’s foreign ministry spokesman said the “2+2” talks will be held on Wednesday and Thursday and for the first time involve both Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
“The visit and discussion in such a format will be conducted for the first time in the history of our friendly relations [with Egypt],” spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told reporters.
Lukashevich said the discussion will touch on “military and technical cooperation” – a Russian euphemism for arms sales – as well as political and economic ties.
“We are sincerely interested in seeing Egypt… continue moving toward social and political improvements that benefit all its people,” Lukashevich said.
Russia has had complicated but sometimes close relations with Egypt that included Soviet-era support for the deposed ex-president Hosni Mubarak.
