CAIRO: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed al-Orabi met today with the German politician and member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Martin Schulz. Ambassador Menha Bakhoum, the spokeswoman for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Schulz and al-Orabi discussed the role of Europe's parliament in supporting the Egyptian and European partnership. They also discussed the problems that Egypt faces including unemployment and expensive housing, as well as how the partnership will help Egypt get by its transitional phase and turn to democracy. Bakhoumk also said that al-orabi mentioned in the meeting Egypt's will to develop cooperation with the new country of South Sudan, and that Egypt was one of the first countries to recognize it. Issues related to Palestine were also discussed during the meeting. Al-orabi said that current developments in the Middle East requires fast developments in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, which will in turn bring about long term peace and justice to the region.