FM to attend AMED in Egypt

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama is scheduled to leave for Egypt to attend the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Middle East Dialogue (AMED) in Sharam El Sheikh from April 5 - 6 a Foreign Ministry release said.

The AMED was launched in Singapore in June 2005 to realise greater, understanding between the Asia and the Middle East, at the governmental and non-governmental levels, to foster a comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation between the two regions.

This high profile summit will be attended by nearly 20 Foreign Ministers, mainly from Asia and the Middle East as well as political dignitaries, senior policy makers, corporate leaders, diplomatic corps and intelligentsia among others. As customary, Minister Bogollagama will be accompanied by a contingent of corporate captains of Sri Lanka, thus promoting economic diplomacy.

The AMED will facilitate them to have one-to-one meetings and interaction with leading industrialists and business leaders, particularly, from the region of Middle East. It is envisaged that the Minister would meet, other counterparts on the sidelines of the AMED to discuss issues of relevance and significance.

Minister Bogollagama is due to address the Second AMED on political and Security issues and on economic issues. The economic issues will focus on expanding trade and investment between the two regions, cooperation between oil producers and consumers, and promoting tourism and service sectors. The key objectives of this Summit are to initiate pragmatic programs for prioritised and select spheres of cooperation and strengthen the cultural bonds between and among the peoples of Asia and the Middle East.

After the conclusion of the AMED, the Minister will leave to Cairo to call on the political leadership of Egypt.

The last bilateral visit of a Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka to Egypt was in 1998. The visit of Minister Bogollagama is expected to re-intensify the already close and congenial relations between the two countries. Egypt is often described as an epicentre of culture, civilisation, history and philosophy. Sri Lanka has maintained 60 years of diplomatic relations with Egypt, since her Independence. Sri Lanka considers Egypt as a close ally and a leader in the Non-Aligned Movement.

The late President Gamal' Abdel Nasser played an instrumental and principal role in forging the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), along with other founding leaders of NAM. This legacy of President Nasser was pursued by late President Anwar El Sadat and currently by President Hosni Mubarak.

During this visit, the Minister is slated to call on the President, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Tourism of Egypt among others. Minister Bogollagama is also scheduled to address on the subject of Counter Terrorism at the Asian Study Centre in Cairo, the release said.