UK lawmakers in talks over Egypt support

A number of British Conservative Party lawmakers discussed ways to support Egypt out of its importance and its role in preserving regional stability.

The discussion at the House of Commons was at the request of lawmaker Kwasi Kwarteng who introduced a paper titled "British support to stability in Egypt" on back of a visit to Egypt by a Conservative Party delegation on January 14-18.

It was attended by Conservative Middle East Council chief Alan Duncan, all members of the visiting delegation that visited Egypt in January, head of the Egyptian friendship group at the UK parliament Gerald Howarth and Tobias Ellwood, a junior Foreign Office minister.

Addressing the attendees, Kwarteng mainly reviewed the outcome of the visit to Egypt. He asserted Egypt's importance and its pivotal role in the Arab nation, urging the UK government to resume air flights to Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh as soon as possible.

Economy is a decisive factor in Egypt's stability and by resuming flights to Egypt, the UK would contribute to supporting Egypt's economy, he said, noting that tourism represents 20 percent of that economy. 

Kwarteng also tackled the social, economic and political developments in Egypt. Stability in Egypt is also decisive, and that's why I called for this meeting, he said.

For his part, Ellwood said that despite the recent hardships it faced, Egypt under President Abdel Fattah El Sisi managed to finalize the mega project of Suez Canal in less than one year.

Ellwood said the terrorist Daesh group in eastern Libya posed the greatest security threat to Egypt. Security cooperation continues with Cairo in the field of aviation to help resume flights as soon as possible, he added.

Source: MENA