By: Ashraf Sadek CAIRO, May 12, 2018 - Egypt's Foreign Ministry protested to Russian officials against an opinion poll that was conducted by the Moscow-run Russia Today (RT) television station over the sovereignty of the Halayeb triangle on Friday night, a Ministry spokesman said on Saturday. In this much rejected poll, the RT asked on-line viewers to say whether Halayeb belonged to Egypt, or The Sudan. In prompt response, the Ministry has contacted the Russian side to express its strong disapproval of that poll and demand an urgent explanation for such rejected action, Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid told diplomatic reporters. Mr. Abu Zeid added that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri had cancelled a press interview with the said TV station that was scheduled to be held Saturday in the morning after the poll. Mr. Shoukri's interview with RT was expected to discuss the items on the agenda of tomorrow's meeting between Egyptian and Russian foreign and defence ministers. The meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Moscow, was the fourth round of the 2+2 strategic talks between the two countries. In a related development, the State Information Service (SIS) issued a statement on Friday in which it strongly deplored the RT opinion poll. The statement added that right after the holding of the RT offending and inaccurate poll, the SIS officials started to consult with the Egyptian authorities concerned, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the steps and measures that must be taken against the said TV station. The SIS statement accused the RT of practising unprofessional media traditions and showing disrespect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Egyptian state. It added that the SIS had decided to summon the RT officials in Cairo on Saturday in the morning to inform them of Egypt's full rejection and strong condemnation of such act that violates sovereignty of the state. It also said that the SIS wanted to hear from the RT officials the circumstances that surrounded the launching of such opinion poll in order to take the proper actions and measures against the station.
