Popular diplomacy has a major role in achieving Egypt’s post-revolution foreign policy, Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said Monday.
He told reporters that popular diplomacy’s “mission is important in achieving Egypt’s historic aims and expressing stances toward various international and regional issues.”
Popular diplomacy delegations, which have included former diplomats, legal experts and politicians, visited many countries in the aftermath of the 25 January revolution.
Delegations said they sought more openness toward countries that weren’t given enough attention under Hosni Mubarak’s rule, such as Ethiopia, Uganda and Iran.
Sharaf commended the results of recent visits and meetings with numerous leaders in these countries.
His statements came after he received a delegation arriving back from Iran. It gave him a report on meetings with Iranian officials, who expressed enthusiasm about opening a new chapter with Egypt. In a meeting attended by Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abouelnaga and Foreign Minister Mohamed al-Orabi, the delegation reviewed the steps agreed upon with the Iranians for boosting bilateral relations.
A statement issued after the meeting said it has been agreed that trips for around 500,000 Iranian tourists to Egypt will be organized within six months, in addition to an exhibition showcasing Egyptian products in Tehran in two months' time.
The Iranian government offered to provide the venue and other arrangements at its own expense. They also agreed to hold an Egyptian movie week and form a delegation of actors to take part in the event.
A delegation of Egyptian businessmen will head to Iran this week, and an agreement will be signed by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Iran.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
