CAIRO: Egypt and Cuba are looking for new paths as the two nations continue to renew their relationship, which had become strained in recent years. Cairo's new ambassador to Havana said recently that the two nations have improved greatly the bilateral ties and hopes the future will be just as promising. Tareq El Wassimy said in an interview with Cuba's daily newspaper Granma that his country pledges to continue to strengthen cooperation with Cuba. “Cuba and Egypt have historical friendship and fraternities,” El Wassimy said in the interview. He continued, saying that “Egypt has special esteem for the people of Cuba as well as the Cuban former leader Fidel Castro and [current] Cuban President Raul Castro.” The minister argued that Egypt values Cuba's successful historical progression that has allowed the country to reach an extraordinary level of scientific and technology development. “There have always been special diplomatic and cooperation ties between the two foreign ministries, which are reflected through the mechanism of political consultation,” El Wassimy said. Elwassimy added that Egypt country would like to import Egyptian products into Cuba and hopes the Caribbean nation would do the same, “without the geographic distance as obstacle. “In the face of the world economic and financial crisis, the two countries should bring their cooperation to a higher level,” the ambassador said. BM
