Kerry urges ‘vital partner’ Egypt towards democracy
US secretary of state John Kerry meets his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo for “detailed and frank” talks with a “vital partner” that Washington says it is committed to working with.
John Kerry, the most senior US official to visit Egypt since the army overthrew president Mohamed Mursi in July, stressed the need for fair and transparent trials for all Egyptians.
The visit comes the day before Mursi and 14 other senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders are due to go on trial charged with inciting violence.
Mr Kerry used his trip to call for an end to all violence in the country, urging progress towards democracy with the “vital” US partner.
“History has demonstrated that democracies are more stable viable and prosperous than any alternative,” he stated.
“With stability comes tourism and investment, and with both come jobs for the Egyptian people.”
The visit is the first stop on a 10-day tour of the Middle East, Europe and North Africa for Kerry. It was kept secret until he had touched down in Cairo.
The tour is being seen as a “damage control” mission to ease tensions between the US and its friends over the conflict in Syria, relations with Iran and the revelations of widespread US surveillance around the globe.
From Egypt, Kerry plans to travel to Saudi Arabia, Poland, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and then Morocco.
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