Egypt, Britain cooperation is in right direction to resume Sharm flights

The security cooperation between Egyptian and the British authorities is moving in the right direction to resume UK flights to the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, the UK foreign secretary told his Egyptian counterpart, according to an Egyptian foreign ministry release.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told his counterpart Boris Johnson during a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA that Egypt aims to provide the necessary guarantees and security procedures in Egyptian airports to ensure tourists’ safety, according to the statement by ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Egypt’s FM highlighted the importance of setting standards to facilitate undertaking the required procedures.

Johnson said that he would give special attention to the matter, adding that he is aware of the economic consequences of such a matter for Egypt.

The UK along with several other Western countries suspended flights to the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh following the downing of a Russian airliner over central Sinai in October last year which killed all 224 people on board.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier in the week in New York and they discussed the security procedures and efforts undertaken in Egypt’s airports and agreed on working on the resumption of British flights to Sharm El-Sheikh.

The British prime minister further expressed support of Egypt’s economic reforms policies urging the developing of bilateral relations on the political and economic levels, according to the Egyptians.

Al-Sisi returned to Egypt early on Friday after attending the the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Source: Ahram Online