Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail described the country's relationship with Saudi Arabia as "good and solid" after recent reports of diplomatic tensions between the two countries, Al-Ahram newspaper reported on Friday. Last week, signs of tension surfaced between Egypt and the kingdom over Cairo's votes on two rival UN Security Council resolutions on Syria. The Saudi ambassador to Cairo, Ahmed Kattan, left the country for a three-day visit to the kingdom while Saudi oil company Aramco did not deliver the monthly oil shipment to Cairo for October. Commenting on reports about an Egyptian delegation flying to Riyadh soon, Ismail told Al-Ahram that deliberation and exchange of point of views between the two countries is "normal and supports the two countries' relationship." He also stated that Aramco had "a number of technical issues regarding its monthly oil shipment, which was discussed with the Egyptian oil ministry." He added that these issues will not affect oil deals with Aramco. In April, the oil-rich kingdom agreed with Egypt on a $22 billion soft loan with facilitated payments to finance the latter's petroleum needs for five years. Saudi Arabia has supported Cairo with billions of dollars in aid, grants, oil products and cash deposits to help buoy the country's economy following the toppling of president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Source: Ahram Online
