Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo voiced his country’s support for Egypt’s right to reclaim funds allegedly smuggled abroad by members of former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
At a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr that followed a meeting with President Mohamed Morsy at the presidential palace, Garcia-Margallo said the case of businessman Hussein Salem — a close Mubarak ally who is wanted by Egyptian authorities on corruption charges — is being handled by the Spanish judiciary.
Amr said his discussions with his Spanish counterpart tackled Salem’s case and quoted Garcia-Margallo as saying that Spanish authorities are awaiting the verdict from the Spanish high court.
Garcia-Margallo said his current visit would be followed by other visits by Spanish businessmen.
“We want to prove how important is Egypt for Spain and the European Union,” he said.
Amr said the Spanish minister promised to reconsider travel warnings made to Spanish tourists heading to Egypt to encourage tourist activity between both countries.
The removal of some visa restrictions had also been discussed, said Amr, who also added that a Spanish economic delegation would visit Egypt soon to discuss mutual investments.
President Mohamed Morsy received an invitation to visit Spain, the date of which has not yet been decided, the minister added.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
