Moussa: Ashton understands Egypt's situation

UN Foreign Affairs Representative Catherine Ashton left the Shura Council headquarters following her meeting on Wednesday with Amr Moussa without giving any statements.

Moussa, Chairman of the 50 Commission to Amend the Constitution, said in a press statement following the closed-door meeting that, “he had sensed improvement in the European attitude in terms of their understanding of Egypt’s situation.”

Moussa added that, “Ashton understands Egypt and supports Egyptian political movements,” pointing out that “the meeting discussed the EU roadmap only and did not discuss the status of ousted President Mohamed Morsi or the Muslim Brotherhood,” because “he was not authorised to do so”.

Ambassador Badr Abdel Atti, who is the spokesperson of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, said that “the meeting between interim Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy and Catherine Ashton discussed the overall bilateral relations between Egypt and the EU, especially the financial side including EU aid to Egypt, trade relationships and ways to attract investment.”

Atti continued that, “the meeting also dealt with the Nile Basin Initiative and developments related to the Nahda Dam project and the importance of reaching a settlement that does not harm Egypt’s water interests. The meeting also discussed some important regional issues.”