Saturday, August 18, 2012

#Egypt's M.B. islamic president 'to visit Iran' - first such visit since overthrow of the shah in 1979


Egypt's M.B. islamic president 'to visit Iran' - first such visit since overthrow of the shah in 1979  via BBC 

Egypt President Mursi 'to visit Iran'

Egyptian President Mohammed MursiMr Mursi's visit would be the first to Iran by an Egyptian head of state for decades
The Egyptian president is to visit Iran to attend meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement at the end of August, Egyptian media report.
If the visit to Tehran goes ahead, Mohammed Mursi's trip will be the first visit by an Egyptian head of state since the 1979 Iranian revolution.
Previous reports suggested he might send his deputy, Mahmoud Mekki.
Egypt currently heads the movement, created during the Cold War to promote the interests of the developing world.
A visit by Mr Mursi could mark a thaw in relations between Iran and Egypt after decades of discord.
Egypt's formal recognition of Israel and Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution led, in 1980, to the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two states.
Under former President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt sided with Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-dominated Arab nations in a bid to isolate Shia-led Iran.
In June, Mr Mursi said he would sue an Iranian news agency after it quoted him as saying he would seek to restore relations with Tehran.