US and Egypt revive security talks

Washington and Cairo resumed security talks Saturday, six years after US Secretary of State John Kerry restarted the "strategic dialogue" with Egyptian officials. Talks had been suspended for this long owing to the Arab spring and the turmoil following authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak's ouster in 2011.

Two days earlier, the US delivered eight F-16 warplanes to Egypt as a part of a military support package to help Cairo counter increasing threats from terrorists. In addition to the F-16s, the US has also provided Egypt with Apache helicopters, attack boats, armored vehicles and other weapons since the beginning of this year.

The US would "continue to provide robust training to the Egyptian military, as the military seeks it and desires it, in an effort to build capacity, and also to meet the highest expectations of your military for its professionalism," Kerry told reporters in a joint news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Improving human rights in Egypt

However, the US would still continue to raise the issue of human rights with Egypt, Kerry said, referring to Cairo postponing a verdict on the trial of three Al Jazeera journalists whose arrests sparked worldwide criticism.

In the joint news conference, Shoukry acknowledged "some differences in points of view over some issues, which is natural." He argued that no journalists had been detained for doing their jobs, only for terrorism and other offenses.

Kerry said the US was "absolutely clear that terrorists who kill civilians and attack Egyptian security forces have to be brought to justice," but that it was important to differentiate between those using violence for their ends and those who sought to "participate in a political dialogue." Egypt needed to adopt a strategy that would improve the economy and tolerate dissent to prevent young people from embracing radical ideologies, Kerry said.

Cairo seeks to improve business

The US Secretary of State also congratulated Egyptian officials on a second waterway that would allow two-way traffic on the Suez Canal. The route is to be opened on Thursday and is expected to boost Egypt's flagging economy.

Expanding US- Egypt ties was also part of Kerry's agenda. The US official said that the two countries would resume investment talks this autumn. Cairo is Kerry's first stop in his Middle East trip. He is scheduled to travel to Qatar after meeting Egyptial President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi later on Sunday.

mg/jlw (AP, Reuters, dpa)