Catherine Ashton, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, will arrive in Cairo on Wednesday for a two-day visit to meet with President Mohamed Morsy, the UN Commission announced on Sunday in Brussels.
Commission spokesperson Michael Mann said programs geared towards cooperation with and assistance for Egypt had been put on hold as the EU awaited the election of the Egyptian president and the formation of a new government.
Ashton's visit comes two days after a visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ashton is the second senior European official to visit Cairo after German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who visited last week. She also plans on meeting with leaders of political parties and civil society organizations.
In a statement issued by her office, Ashton congratulated Morsy on his presidential victory and said she is confident that he would preserve diversity, urging him to communicate with all political and social forces in Egypt.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
