Egypt denies rift with Saudi, drift toward Iran

Record ID: 76654

  • Title: Egypt denies rift with Saudi, drift toward Iran
  • Date: 10th December 2016
  • Summary: MANAMA, BAHRAIN (DECEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) DELEGATES ENTERING BALLROOM (L-R) EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAMEH SHUKRI, IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT, AYAD ALLAWI, BAHRAIN FOREIGN MINISTER MANAMA DIALOGUE DIRECTOR, JOHN CHIPMAN, AND BAHRAINI FOREIGN MINISTER, SHEIKH KHALID BIN AHMED AL KHALIFA, SITTING ON PODIUM ANSWERING QUESTIONS PODIUM ON STAGE IN FRONT OF SCREEN SHOWING DELEGATES ASKING QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAMEH SHUKRI, SAYING: "I recognise the chatter within the media related to the conditions of this relationship [with Saudi Arabia] so let me reassure you that from Egypt's perspective, we have a very clear vision as to the fundamental nature of that relationship, its importance, and that Arab national security depends on the cohesion and understanding that exists between Saudi Arabia and Egypt." MINISTERS ON STAGE LISTENING TO QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAMEH SHUKRI, SAYING: "Egypt has always taken the opportunity of such discussions to re-emphasise the positions of the Arab nations as relates the importance of maintenance of the integrity of national Arab security and that it has always been in a position to emphasise in those discussions the interests of the Arab nation, vis-a-vis what might be expansionary policies of Iran." CHIPMAN AND KHALIFA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT, AYAD ALLAWI, SAYING: "We all know that Iran has intervened directly in [the affairs] of many nations, first and foremost in Iraq, and now in Syria after it was done with Iraq. But this does not mean that we sit with our hands folded in the face of this abnormal and unacceptable circumstance. It is from this context that I believe that inviting Iran to a regional summit with the presence of the United Nations and the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is crucial so we can reveal the truth behind Iran's intentions." SIGN READING (English/Arabic): "IISS MANAMA DIALOGUE" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT, AYAD ALLAWI, SAYING: "I believe this is an important issue so that when Iran is isolated, it will be isolated from the wider Middle East, and not the Arab nations alone. So it will be truly isolated and have no outlet to spread problems in the nations of the region, especially the Arab nations." SPEAKERS SITTING ON STAGE TAKING QUESTIONS
  • Embargoed: 25th December 2016 11:59
  • Keywords: Bahrain Iran Manama Iraq Egypt regional summit
  • Location: MANAMA, BAHRAIN
  • City: MANAMA, BAHRAIN
  • Country: Bahrain
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015CAUSZR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri on Saturday (December 10) hailed a "special relationship" with Saudi Arabia, denying reports that the two powerful Arab nations had fallen out after Egypt expressed support for the Russian intervention in Syria.
    Egypt voted in favour of a Russian-backed U.N. resolution on Syria in October that excluded calls to stop bombing Aleppo, which Saudi Arabia strongly opposed.
    The kingdom informed Egypt last month that shipments of oil products expected under a $23 billion aid deal had been halted indefinitely, but Shukri denied the nations were at loggerheads and said any disagreements had been exaggerated.
    "Let me reassure you that from Egypt's perspective, we have a very clear vision as to the fundamental nature of that relationship, its importance, and that Arab national security depends on the cohesion and understanding that exists between Saudi Arabia and Egypt," Shukri said at the Manama Dialogue conference on Middle East security in Bahrain.
    Shukri added that Egypt was not building its relations with Saudi arch rival Iran, with which it has had strained diplomatic ties since the late 1970s, but has said it engages with the Islamic Republic in multilateral forums.
    "Egypt has always taken the opportunity of such discussions to re-emphasise the positions of the Arab nations as relates the importance of maintenance of the integrity of national Arab security and that it has always been in a position to emphasise in those discussions the interests of the Arab nation, vis-à-vis what might be expansionary policies of Iran," he added.
    Also weighing in on Iran's role in the region, Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi said the country's "interventions" in neighboring Arab countries was "abnormal and unacceptable" and called for a regional summit to discuss the issue with them directly.
    Saudi Arabia and some of its Gulf Arab allies accuse Iran of trying to encircle the kingdom by supporting militia groups in the region - a charge Tehran denies.
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