Officials of Foreign Ministry held talks on Wednesday with a delegation from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), that works for the Congress and assists the government in auditing, evaluation and investigations over the aid offered by the United States to Egypt between 2009 and 2014.
An informed diplomatic source said that ambassador Mohamed Farid Mounib, deputy foreign minister for American affairs, delivered several political messages over the aid issue to the delegation members. He stressed importance of the military aid to Egypt, which supports efforts by the armed forces in its war against terrorism in Sinai.
Mounib added that the GAO directly follows the House and the Senate and is assigned by specialized committees to evaluate and investigate performance of the federal government to ensure the proper management of the financial resources allocated by the Congress within the state budget.
Egypt receives US$1.3 billion from the United States, with most of the aid directed to military purposes. The Obama administration, however, suspended part of the aid following ouster of the toppled President Mohamed Morsy by a military coup that was supported by mass protests in July.
Secretary John Kerry said earlier that the United States will soon decide whether to resume the aid to Egypt.
Tension between Cairo and Washington led to diplomatic and military approachment with Russia, the main political rival of the United States.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
