CAIRO - Alistair Burt, FCO Minister for the Middle East and north Africa arrived in Egypt Wednesday for a two-day visit to the country. Burt is due to meet Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, other senior members of the interim Government and leading members of the political opposition. Speaking ahead of the visit, Burt said:"Last month, the Egyptian people expressed their profound desire for change and for their needs and aspirations to be met through democratic government. "I am therefore visiting Egypt at a time of great opportunity. I will meet senior members of the government, opposition and civil society, and will encourage them to work quickly towards free and fair democratic elections. I also hope to spend time with some of those who inspired such a profound change in their country's direction." Describing the UK as longstanding friend of Egypt, the official said: We have close ties: historical, commercial and political and my meetings will take forward worked in a number of important areas. I intend to discuss the current situation in Libya, where the UK and Egypt have been working closely together on counselor and humanitarian matters, and we will also share views on the Middle East peace process."
