Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Russia is making final preparations for what officials termed unprecedented strategic talks with Egypt.

Officials said a high-level Russian delegation would arrive on Nov. 13 for two days of talks with the Egyptian leadership on strategic cooperation. They said the delegation, headed by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, would be unprecedented in its importance.

“The visit and discussion in such a format will be conducted for the first time in the history of our friendly relations [with Egypt],” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.

In a briefing on Nov. 8, Lukashevich provided details of Russia’s efforts to establish strategic relations and resume military supplies to Egypt. He said the visit would focus on “military and technical cooperation,” a term used by the Kremlin for arms sales.

“We are sincerely interested in seeing Egypt continue moving toward social and political improvements that benefit all its people,” Lukashevich said.

Officials said Egypt has expressed interest in expanding defense and
military cooperation with Moscow, the leading supplier of the Arab state
until 1980. They said the U.S. suspension of major combat platforms in
October 2013 has forced Cairo to diversify suppliers.

“We are ready to negotiate with the Egyptian side the possibility of
deliveries of new weaponry as well as repairing equipment supplied in Soviet
times,” an official of Russia’s arms agency Rosoboronexport told the
RIA-Novosti news agency. “The upcoming visit will help us to outline the
prospects of our [defense] cooperation.”

The Russian wooing of Egypt was expected to include a visit by President
Vladimir Putin in late November. Officials said Putin sought to conclude the
first major arms deal with Egypt since the early 1970s.

“The talks will strengthen bilateral relations in all fields —
economic, military and political — and review important security files in
accordance with Egyptian requirements,” Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman
Bader Abdul Atti told the Saudi-owned A-Sharq Al Awsat daily.

  ‘technical cooperation’ with Egypt, Alexander Lukashevich, Bader Abdul Atti, Rosoboronexport, Russia gears up for unprecedented talks on strategic, Sergei Lavrov, Sergei Shoigu