U.S. Envoy in Cairo to Meet New Egypt President
U.S. deputy secretary of state Bill Burns was in Cairo on Saturday to meet with a wide spectrum of leaders and groups including Egypt's newly elected President Mohammed Morsi, the embassy said.
Burns was on a July 6-8 visit "to meet with a broad spectrum of Egyptian leaders, politicians, and civil society representatives," it said in a statement.
He will also meet Egypt's first Islamist president and "convey a message from U.S. President Barack Obama."
Egypt's state news agency MENA said he met Saturday with the caretaker pope of the Coptic Church, Bishop Pachomius, after which he said Washington "supports respecting international human rights, including rights of religious minorities and women."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is to visit Egypt on July 14, has congratulated Morsi but cautioned that his election was just a first step towards true democracy.
"We have heard some very positive statements so far," Clinton said.
But the historic vote was "just the beginning of hard work, and hard work requires pluralism, respecting the rights of minorities, an independent judiciary and independent media," she said.
"We expect President Morsi to demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity that is manifested by representatives of the women of Egypt, of the Coptic Christian community, of the secular, non-religious community and young people," she added.
Source: Agence France Presse
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