CAIRO: Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr denied receiving formal inquiries from western countries regarding the rise of Islamists in current parliamentary elections. Amr said we do not have fears over this, especially as there are still two phases yet to come in the elections. He added that the west surely has some fears regarding the issue, even if they haven't been outspoken about it. Concerning youths' opportunities to join the diplomatic corps, he welcomed everyone qualified to apply, with no exceptions made for ministers and ambassadors' children. As for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs role in getting money back from the former regime, he asserted their continued communication with countries with former regime symbols' accounts. He added that the ministry has called on these countries to freeze the accounts until the judiciary comes to a decision. Regarding the Swiss crisis, Amr said the solution lies within the Arab work plan which Syria accepted by signing the protocol that organizes the Arab League's role.
