German Parliament canceled Meeting with Sisi over Human Rights Abuse

Egypt’s foreign ministry denied Tuesday that it had requested a meeting between president of the German Parliament Norbert Lammert and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, when he visits Germany in June.

Lammert, a member of the Christian Democratic Union, the same party as Chancellor Angela Merkel, sent a letter to the Egyptian ambassador saying that he has cancelled a meeting with Sisi planned to be held in June, citing human rights abuses and the lack of parliamentary elections in Egypt, AFP reported on Tuesday.

Egyptian Ambassador to Berlin Mohamed Hegazy said in a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry that the meeting was proposed by the German’s and not the Egyptian government.

“The Egyptian side did not ask for nor look forward to a meeting between the two officials,” Hegazy announced late Tuesday.

Merkel has not commented on the issue.

The meeting was scheduled for early June in the German parliament.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef told Ahram Online that El-Sisi’s schedule during his visit to Germany has not been announced yet.
Source:Ahram online