MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti) — Egypt is interested in enhancing its cooperation with Russia and plans to purchase modern Russian-made military equipment, the country's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nabil Fahmy told Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency Friday.
"We deeply respect Russia and value our cooperation. Yes, we have agreed on developing our military cooperation as well and it is already developing. I will not go into the details, but will say that Egypt will purchase the most modern military equipment from Russia," Fahmy said.
According to the former foreign minister, Moscow and Cairo are working to intensify bilateral cooperation in three main spheres – political, military and economic.
"We believe that Russia is an important state. Egypt needs international ties. Not only for substituting America with Russia or vice versa. But in order to benefit from cooperation with everyone," Fahmy explained.
Fahmy noted that Russia and Egypt have a common outlook on many international issues.
"For example, Russia and Egypt stood together for the preservation of the territorial integrity of Syria and against conducting military strikes in this country," Fahmy said, adding that Moscow and Cairo both understand the seriousness of regional terrorism and extremism threats.
In August, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi visited Russia for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Egyptian Ambassador to Russia, the topics discussed by the two presidents included the creation of a free-trade zone between Egypt and countries of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, the possibility of creating a Russian industrial area in Egypt and joint counterterrorism measures.
