Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs Hatem Seif Al-Nasr highlighted Germany's importance in pushing the European Union to deliver its promised monetary aid to Egypt through concrete steps, according to a Tuesday foreign ministry statement. Ambassador Al-Nasr met Tuesday with a German delegation headed by Dr. Andreas Schockenhoff, vice president of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union parliamentary group, to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries at all levels, especially economic means of helping Egypt through its transitional phase. Al-Nasr expressed Egypt's aspiration to deepen relations between the two countries through parliamentary cooperation and exchange of expertise in this area after the formation of an elected parliament in Egypt. According to the ambassador, following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi, Egypt has been keen on diversifying its foreign relations, asserting that the country's openness to a certain party or group does not necessarily mean that it is against another. Al-Nasr stressed that openness to various international partners is governed by several considerations, principal among which is the commitment to non-interference in internal affairs and achieving the principle of common interest. Al-Nasr presented the steps Egypt has taken towards the democratisation process, pointing to the ongoing preparations for the 26 May presidential elections. During the meeting, the ambassador emphasised Egypt's determination to complete the "road map" and to realise the new constitution "which establishes a modern civil state based on the rule of law and respect for human rights." Al-Nasr expressed confidence in the existence of a "political will and a sincere desire" to advance relations between Egypt and Germany, and prospects that meet the aspirations of the two countries' peoples on the basis of mutual respect and common interests. The German delegation's visit lasted three days, from 12 May to 14 May.
