Russia seals strategic agreement with Egypt

CAIRO (AFP/Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a strategic cooperation pact with Egypt on
Tuesday, the first day of a four-nation tour aimed at bolstering Moscows influence in Africa and the Middle East.
Medvedev signed the 10-year agreement with President Hosni Mubarak, whose country has had historic
political and military ties with Moscow and is Russias largest trading partner in Africa.
In a joint declaration, they said they were determined to coordinate foreign policy positions and steps and
stressed the importance of reaching a fair peace in the Middle East.
They also said their two nations were committed to the building of a new multipolar world order, which will be
more democratic, fair and safe for all states, according to a copy of the pact released by the Kremlin.
Medvedev described the deal as very important, telling reporters it would define Egyptian-Russian ties for
years to come.
Mubarak praised Russias influence in the Middle East and the world, adding that Cairo and Moscow were keen
to boost cooperation in energy, trade and investment.
Medvedevs trip is the first visit to Africa by a Russian president for three years and comes in the wake of the
landmark address to the Muslim world that US President Barack Obama gave in Cairo earlier this month.
Russia is keen to boost its diplomatic clout in the region, which was a stronghold of Soviet influence before the
end of the Cold War and the subsequent surge of US dominance.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was also high on the Cairo agenda, and the two leaders reiterated the importance
of securing peace in the region through diplomatic efforts.
The Russian President said Moscow aimed to hold a Middle East peace conference before the end of 2009, a
move backed by his Egyptian counterpart and which Russia said also had Israels approval.
In an apparent effort to underscore the significance of Russias ties with the Arab world, Medvedev was also set
to address the Cairo-based Arab League and meet its chief Amr Mussa.
Israeli spokesman Yigal Palmor said Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman recently told Russia that Israel would,
in principle, agree to attend, provided, of course, that anti-peace elements such as Hamas and Hezbollah are
not invited.
We have ensured agreement from all countries including the new Israeli government (for the Moscow
conference), Medvedev said later in the day at the Cairo-based Arab League.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Reuters: We welcome the holding of
an international conference in Moscow. But before it can go ahead there must be real improvements.
This included stopping Israeli settlement activity and an Israeli commitment to a two-state solution, he said.
Since 2000, Egypt has benefited from a sharp increase in the number of Russian tourists, which reached 1.8
million last year and outnumbered visitors from western Europe.
With trade of 4.1 billion dollars last year, Egypt is Russias largest commercial partner in Africa.
Their relationship has not suffered since Egypt returned a shipment of Russian wheat early this month, saying it
was contaminated with bugs and heavy metals.
Russia has also expressed interest in a 1.5 billion-1.8 billion-dollar tender to construct Egypts first atomic power
station, which would resume the countrys nuclear programme after a 20-year freeze.