Assistant Secretary Feltman's Visit to Cairo

August 22, 2011

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey D. Feltman visited Cairo today for consultations with the Government of Egypt and the Arab League to discuss regional issues and his recent visit to Benghazi.  He was accompanied in his meetings by U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne W. Patterson.

In separate meetings with Foreign Minister Amr and Assistant Minister of Defense al Assar, Assistant Secretary Feltman expressed condolences on behalf of the United States to the Egyptian government and to the family and friends of the Egyptian soldiers killed last week.  He praised the Egyptian government for its restraint in the regrettable incident and offered U.S. support for the formal inquiry.  Feltman reiterated continuing U.S. support for Egypt’s transition to a democratic civil government, with full protections for human rights.

During meetings with Arab League Secretary-General El Arabi, Feltman discussed developments in Libya and his recent trip to Benghazi.  “Qadhafi’s regime is finished,” he said.  “Now Libya will need support from Arab League members and the international community to reconstruct a new democratic government that the Libyan people want.”  Feltman said that the time has come for President Assad to resign before Syria, too, descends into chaos.