Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said that EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton's visit to ousted President Mohamed Morsy did not constitute interference in Egypt's internal affairs.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Fahmy added that the first people to visit Morsy since his detention were members of an Egyptian human rights delegation, not foreign officials.
Fahmy said that Ashton asked to meet Morsy to listen to what he had to say and to convey to him the view of the European Union on the developments in Egypt. An African Union delegation visited Morsy for the same reason, he added.
Fahmy also said that certain issues were taken into consideration before giving the approval to visit Morsy, adding that such decisions were taken in light of the circumstances.
Asked if Ashton came to Egypt to propose an initiative for reconciliation, Fahmy said, "I cannot talk on someone's behalf, but she did not come to Cairo with a reconciliation initiative. She came to see the situation firsthand and to propose ideas,” he said.
“Mohamed ElBaradei, the vice president, explained the situation clearly on Tuesday when he said that Ashton had come to better understand the situation and to propose any help she could give, although this will not be in the form of an initiative or mediation."
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
