Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has sent a message congratulating Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on his re-election on Friday, Iran’s official agency (IRNA) reported Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher was quoted on Sunday as saying that his country was keen to have good relations with Iran because of its key role in the region.
Ice was broken between the two countries when Mubarak and Khatami held a telephone conversation last year, the first contact between the countries' top leaders in 20 years.
Iran severed its relations with Egypt in 1979, after the latter signed a peace agreement with Israel. Ties became more strained after Egypt hosted the overthrown Iranian Shah.
In 1991, however, the two countries established interest sections in their respective states, and commercial cooperation has been healthy since then - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
