Al-Masry Al-Youm
Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said on Sunday evening that the Egyptian-American relations are extremely important for both sides, yet have been disrupted for the moment.
“We do not hold strategic dialogue anymore. This is contingent upon the return of normal relations,” Fahmy said, reassuring that relations are not completely cut off. “We do talk to Secretary of State John Kerry.”
On the Apache helicopters that the United states did not return to Egypt, Fahmy said those are still being maintained in the United States. “They said they will send them as soon as they finish,” he said.
The US Embassy in Cairo issued a statement last Tuesday to correct what it called inaccurate reports that had been circulated about holding Apache helicopters belonging to Egypt by the United States.
Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy claimed in a press statement earlier that the United States had refused to return the Apache helicopters belonging to Egypt sent to Washington for maintenance.
"In fact, one helicopter was sent to the United States for an upgrade. That upgrade is complete, and it is available to be shipped back to Egypt at any time," the embassy said in its statement.
It however pointed out that "The United States continues to hold delivery of new Apache helicopters as a part of the US Administration’s review of assistance to Egypt."
Egypt receives US$1.3 billion in annual aid from the United States.
Most of the aid is directed towards military purposes. However, the United States has suspended part of the aid following the violent dispersal of the Rabaa al-Adaweya and Nahda Squares, when the Health Ministry reported almost 600 mostly unarmed protesters, supporting toppled President Mohamed Morsy, died at the hands of the Egyptian military.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier that the United States will decide soon over resumption of the aid to Egypt.Tension between Cairo and Washington led to diplomatic and military approachment with Russia, the main political rival of the US.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm