Maher: Egypt, Iran differences are a thing of the past

Egypt's foreign minister Ahmed Maher stressed that the late Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat's signing of the camp David agreement with Israel has become an issue that its time has past between Cairo and Tehran.

In statements to the Iranian news Agency IRNA, Maher said that Tehran and Cairo are working for achieving national reconciliation, adding that previous differences are do not exist any longer.

The Egyptian minister explained that there were numerous changes that took place in the relations between the two countries, stressing that what is remaining is to consolidate bilateral cooperation.

He stressed the support given by each Cairo and Tehran for the Palestinians, and their joint desire to establish peace and stability in the region. He stressed that each of Egypt and Iran will continue their support for the Palestinian people.

Maher described the meeting of the two countries' presidents in December 2003 in Geneva as an important development in the process of rapprochement, and the return back of relations to normalcy, noting the similar view points between the two countries on several issues.

Worthy mentioning that signing the Camp David agreement in 1978, and the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, greatly contributed to the deterioration of relations between Cairo and Tehran.

Tehran blames Egypt also for having received Shah Muhammad Rida Bahlawi after he had fled from Iran, following the victory of the Islamic revolution, while the Egyptians accuse Iran of supporting what is called terrorism, and stress their objection to have the name of Khaled al-Islambuli honored as a street name in Tehran. Al-Islambuli was the killer of the former Egyptian president Anwar al-Sadat.