Papers coming from abroad are subject to outside Publications Law

Egyptian Minister of Information Safwat El-Sherif said that papers coming from abroad are subject to the outside publications law.

The circulation of any newspaper coming from abroad will not be permitted unless it drops the status of a foreign publication receiving licenses from a foreign country.

A main condition is that the license should be approved by the Egyptian embassy in that country in addition to the approval of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and bearing the state seal to verify the certification submitted to the Publications Authority.

In remarks on newspapers and magazines that are received from abroad, Safwat El Sherif said that the Publication Authority contacts several authorities concerned to check the seriousness of any foreign newspaper before permitting its circulation inside Egypt.

Cyprus had decided Tuesday to stop all newspapers and magazines issued in the island and distributed in Egypt under licenses issued before December 31, 2000.

A statement issued by the Cypriot embassy in Cairo explained that this decision was taken because these publications violated the Cypriot press law and did not carry out a stipulation that copies should be deposited with the Cypriot authorities concerned.