Egyptian European partnership agreement signing soon

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said Egypt will soon sign the partnership agreement with Europe, adding he gave instructions to the Egyptian embassy in Brussels to set a date for the signing in the next few days.

In statements Tuesday, moussa said the text reached after five-year negotiations between the two sides will be signed, adding all ministries and quarters concerned contributed to such an achievement in all the agreement's political, economic, trade, social and cultural aspects.

"The new agreement will replace the one that reports organizing relations between the two sides since 1977," he said.

President Hosni Mubarak, in a speech before the European parliament in 1991, called for furthering relations between the two sides. Moussa added.

He noted that the agreement represented a significant step towards establishing a huge political -economic grouping that would support the peace process and enhance security, stability and development efforts.

"This will entail the setting up of free trade area where Egyptian exports to European markets are exempted from customs duties," said Moussa.