Azerbaijan, Baku, April 1 /Trend, T.Jafarov/
The "Green light" lit by the Egyptian officials for Iran following the resignation of Hosni Mubarak to revise relations with this country although not caused a "friendly" relationship, but contributes to the "melting of ice" that have arisen between the two countries over the past 30 years, and ends the feud, an Egyptian expert Sharif Shubeshi told Trend.
"The new government of Egypt will seek to pursue a policy different from Mubarak's policy. Of course, in this short period it is still too early to talk about friendly relations between Iran and Egypt, but the important thing is that there will not be hostile relations between the two countries," editor of the Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper, a political expert Sharif Shubeshi told Trend by telephone from Cairo on Friday.
Official Cairo will open a new paper in its foreign policy with all countries, including Iran, he said, the Foreign Minister of Egypt Nabil al-Arabi said to a press conference, Egyptian media reported. "The Egyptian government does not consider Iran an enemy. Iran is one of the countries in the region, with which Egypt has ancient historical ties," said al-Arabi.
The only obstacle to the restoration of Iranian-Egyptian relations was Hosni Mubarak, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on March 8 in an interview with Lebanese al-Axbar newspaper. He said if the Foreign Ministry of Egypt invites him, he shall immediately make a visit to Cairo.
Diplomatic relations between Iran and Egypt broke in 1979 after the Islamic revolution in Iran, when Egypt gave an asylum to Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, as well as because of Egypt's signing a peace agreement with Israel (Camp David Accords). Despite the break in relations between the two countries, there is little economic relation, and over the last two years, the issue of opening flights between these states has been discussed.
Shubeshi said Iranian-Egyptian relations are already entering a new stage of development.
"Iranian-Egyptian relations already enter a new phase. Hosni Mubarak's regime regarded Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran as the enemies of his own regime, but the new Egyptian government would reconsider its relations with Iran," said Shubeshi.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was forced to resign on Feb. 11 as a result of riots.
Iranian expert Davud Germides-Bavand believes that the Government of Egypt, wishing to present itself as a democratic and independent regime, will improve relations with the countries of the region, including Iran.
"The new Egyptian government tries to present itself as a democratic, independent regime, not being under the influence of other countries. From this point of view, the new government will seek to build constructive relations with the countries of the region, including Iran," doctor of political sciences, an expert on international affairs Germides-Bavand told Trend by telephone from Tehran.
During Mohammad Khatami's presidency, Iran made special efforts to restore ties between the two countries, but for some reasons, no progress has been achieved. During first presidential term of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, steps were also taken to restore relations. As an example, it is possible to mention Iranian Speaker Haddad Adil's visit to Egypt and his meeting with Mubarak, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani's visit to Egypt, and Vice President of Iran, Chairman of the Organization of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Hamid Begai's visit to Egypt in October 2010. After Begai's visit, for the first time over the last 30 years, flights have been restored between Iran and Egypt.
Bavand said improvement of Iranian-Egyptian relations does not contrary to West's interests.
"Iran can build a relationship with Egypt like other Arab countries. The restoration of relations between the two countries is not considered a major threat to Europe and the USA," said Bavand.
Currently Egypt, Morocco, Gambia and Senegal have no relations with Iran.
A.Tagiyeva contributed to article
