The Saudi Ambassador to Cairo, Ahmed al-Qattan, denied that there is any crisis between the two countries on Thursday, confirming that the decision by the Saudi king to recall the ambassador was to protect relations between the two countries in case the situation deteriorated.
Saudi Arabia recalled Qattan on Sunday after Egyptian activists protested the detention of Egyptian lawyer Ahmed al-Gizawy upon his arrival in the Saudi Arabia last month for allegedly possessing drugs. Egyptian activists claim that Gizawy was imprisoned for criticizing the Saudi king and the way Egyptian prisoners are treated in the Kingdom.
On Thursday, a parliamentary delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia in a bid to alleviate the tensions caused by the Gizawy case.
“The Egyptian delegation represents the whole of Egyptian society, including political parties, Al-Azhar, the Coptic Church, artists, writers and professors, all of whom came to express their appreciation for government and people of Saudi Arabia,” Parliament Speaker Saad al-Katatny said of the delegation.
“The Egyptian community in Saudi Arabia and Saudis in Egypt each feel like they are in their second country,” Katatny said, lauding the hospitality granted to the Egyptian delegation.
Qattan said that the decision to return to Cairo is in the hands of the King, confirming that what joins Egypt and the Kingdom is far bigger than the events outside the embassy, adding that Gizawy’s case does not deserve to be discussed now.
He confirmed that the Saudi aid program to Egypt continues as his country will send US$500 million in June to support the Egyptian budget.
Qattan lauded the role of head of the military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, in ending the crisis, referring to the misconduct of the demonstrators outside the embassy. He said that no diplomatic delegation should be attacked in Egypt, especially the Saudi delegation, which shares strong relations with Egypt.
The Saudi ambassador called for looking ahead to the future, forgetting the past and working to end any crises between the two countries.
“Egyptians are always welcome in Saudi Arabia, and there are hundreds of thousands of Egyptian brothers who support us in achieving development and progress,” said Saudi Foreign Minister Saudi al-Faisal, lauding the Egyptian community for having the best morals and being committed to rules and laws.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
