Press Release No. 3

8 January 2008

Visit of Hon’ble Mr. Shivraj V. Patil, Minister of Home Affairs of India, to Egypt (5-9 January 2008)

His Excellency Mr. Shivraj V. Patil, Minister of Home Affairs of India, was accorded an official welcome at the Ministry of Interior yesterday evening (7 January 2008). In the preliminary talks His Excellency Mr. Shivraj V. Patil and his Egyptian counterpart, His Excellency General Habib Ibrahim El Adly, Minister of Interior were in agreement that sustained bilateral engagement and cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs of India and the Ministry of Interior of Egypt would not only reinforce the existing multi-faceted relations between India and Egypt, but also facilitate better strategisation against the divisive, disruptive and violent challenges which the world faces. It was further agreed that such cooperation should include sharing of views and experience as also development/activation of operational mechanisms in regard to policing, internal security related matters and capacity-building. Both Ministers expressed satisfaction over the finalisation of the Agreements on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters as well as the Extradition Treaty. Mr. Patil invited General Habib Ibrahim El Adly to pay an official visit to India.

Following the talks, discussions were held between the official delegations of the Home Ministry of India and the Interior Ministry of Egypt, led by the respective Ministers. The delegation-level talks identified the specifics in regard to counter-terrorism, illegal trafficking of narcotics, money laundering, capacity building, technological aspects of security management and related priorities. It was decided to continue the dialogue with a view to imparting tangible shape and content to the ideas which were focussed upon by the Leaders of the two delegations.

Later this afternoon (8 January) Mr. Patil called on His Excellency Dr. Fathy Sorur, Speaker of the People’s Assembly of the Arab Republic of Egypt. In the evening, Mr. Patil met His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was followed by the signing of two significant instruments namely, the Agreements on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Earlier on 6 January Mr. Patil flew in from Sharm el Sheikh after a significant meeting with the President of Egypt covering a wide-ranging set of issues. In the evening, Mr. Patil also called on His Excellency Mr. Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

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