Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 30 /Trend/
The Islamic Republic of Iran is the most important neighbor of the Arab World, Egypt's permanent representative in the United Nations Majed Abdel-Aziz said while emphasizing Tehran-Cairo relations benefits the people of the region, IRNA reported.
"No one can deny the fact that Iran and Egypt have very reinforced historic relations. Hence, establishment of Tehran-Cairo ties is a necessity," Abdel-Aziz told IRNA in an exclusive interview in New York on Thursday.
He pointed out that two big countries of Iran and Egypt can have cooperation in important fields such as nuclear, energy, Palestine and regional security.
The Egyptian diplomat said that Iran and Egypt should increase the level of their diplomatic relations in order to boost the regional cooperation.
"Political changes in the Middle East urges further strengthening of cooperation between Iran and Egypt," Abdel-Aziz added.
He noted that the negotiations between Arab states and Iran have entered a new phase and it is necessary for Egypt to seize the opportunity and enter new phase of talks with Tehran.
In 1979, diplomatic relations were cut off between Egypt and Iran because of the signing of the Camp David peace agreement between Egypt and Israel and also because then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat granted refuge to the deposed Shah of Iran, Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi.
Tehran, in turn, was strongly against Egypt's peace agreement with Israel. .
In early April, Egypt's Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi stated that Cairo is ready to "open a new page" in the history of relations with Iran.
Then, Al-Arabi and his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi met in May and discussed the prospects for restoring the bilateral relations. Less than a week after, an Egyptian delegation comprising 50 persons arrived in Tehran, where the restoration of diplomatic relations was discussed.
Iran supported the January revolution in Egypt and welcomed the friendly attitude of Egypt.
Salehi named the Egyptian delegation's visit as "a step to prepare the grounds for the improvement of the relations" and said Iran is ready for a quick restoration of relations with Egypt.
Edited by T.Konyayeva.