UNITED STATES: U.S. SAYS IT WILL TRY TO ACCELERATE SOME OF ITS ECONOMIC AID TO EGYPT IN RESPONSE TO DROP IN COUNTRY'S TOURISM SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

Record ID: 337949

  • Title: UNITED STATES: U.S. SAYS IT WILL TRY TO ACCELERATE SOME OF ITS ECONOMIC AID TO EGYPT IN RESPONSE TO DROP IN COUNTRY'S TOURISM SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS
  • Date: 29th November 2001
  • Summary: (U5) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 29, 2001) (REUTERS -- ACCESS ALL) 1. SV: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL AND EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED MAHER EXCHANGING A TREATY ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE 0.18 2. SLV: POWELL AND MAHER EXITING THE STATE DEPARTMENT BUILDING AFTER THEIR MEETING AND APPROACHING JOURNALISTS 0.32 3. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) POWELL COMMENTING ON AMERICAN ECONOMIC AID TO EGYPT: "We talked about this bilateral matter between the two sides. We are aware that Egypt is having some financial and economic difficulty now, the drop in tourism, and we are looking at ways that we can accelerate some of our economic cooperation and other programmes. And the minister will be meeting with members of my staff and others in the administration to see how this can be brought about as quickly as possible. We want to be as responsive as we can." 1.02 4. WIDESHOT POWELL AND MAHER SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS 1.08 5. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) POWELL COMMENTING ON A UNIFIED POSITION BETWEEN THE U.S. AND EGYPT CONCERNING IRAQ: "There is no difficulty in reconciling our two positions. They are the same; both the United States and Egypt support the United Nations' resolutions that require Iraq to give up weapons of mass destruction and to allow inspectors in. Both of us have a common understanding of the nature of that regime and what a danger that regime presents to the region and to the world, and we all want to keep Iraq contained. But, at the moment, there is nothing for us to disagree about, in my humble judgment. We will stay in close touch and consultations with our Egyptian friends and our other friends in the region as we go forward. As the president said the other day, we keep a close eye on Iraq. I was pleased that we were able to get the sanctions rolled over again for another six months, but this time in a way that will improve the goods review list of what can be sold to Iraq in a way that the Iraqi people will be benefit, but the regime will not benefit. And so, we understand the caution that some of our friends have given us with respect to possible future actions, and we will stay in close touch and consultation with our friends." (SOUNDBITE) (English) EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED MAHER RESPONDING: "May I answer the question? I think we have made our position very clear among friends. We had frank discussions about this matter. And the secretary said that friends and allies of the United States are advising caution, and I think he has heard us. We have been heard. And this has been under discussion and we continue to discuss this matter." 2.50 6. SV: POWELL AND MAHER KISSING GOODBYE AND SHAKING HANDS 3.02 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th December 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA6SXUDQ2IF747VZRMJ5RGBCSC2
  • Story Text: The United States said it would try to accelerate some
    of its economic aid to Egypt in response to Egypt's
    economic difficulties.


    Egypt's tourism industry, a pillar of its economy, has
    been hard hit by the September 11 attacks on the United
    States, which frightened tourists into avoiding the Middle
    East.

    Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher has said his country
    was not seeking more American aid but it wanted the United
    States to be more flexible about the aid, which amounts to
    about $2 billion a year.

    After talks with Maher on Thursday (November 29),
    Secretary of State Colin Powell said: "We are aware that Egypt
    is having some financial and economic difficulty -- a drop in
    tourism, and we are looking at ways that we can accelerate
    some of our economic cooperation and other programmes."
    "There'll still be a meeting with members of my staff and
    others in the administration to see how this can be brought
    about as quickly as possible. We want to be as responsive as
    we can," he told reporters outside the State Department.

    Powell and Maher also expressed a unified position in
    continuing to apply pressure on Iraq to open its border to
    weapons inspectors. Powell said the U.S. would continue to
    consult Egypt and other allies in the region. Maher went on to
    describe the discussion regarding Iraq as "frank", a
    diplomatic nicety indicating all may not have been totally
    unified.

    "The secretary said that friends and allies of the United
    States are advising caution, and I think he has heard us. We
    have been heard. And this has been under discussion and we
    continue to discuss this matter," Maher said.


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