Greek deputy PM arrives in Egypt

CAIRO

Greek Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos arrived in Cairo on Thursday for his first visit to Egypt since the July 3 ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi.

While in Egypt, Venizelos is expected to discuss bilateral relations with senior Egyptian officials, according to a diplomatic source at the Greek Embassy in Cairo.

On Friday, Venizelos is set to meet with Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi and Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi to discuss means of boosting bilateral relations, along with regional and international issues of mutual concern, with the Syria crisis at the top of the agenda, the source added.

The Greek minister is scheduled to hold a press conference following his talks with Fahmi.

Egypt has remained in the throes of political turmoil since the army ousted Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president, two months ago, following mass demonstrations against his presidency.

In statements to state news agency MENA, Venizelos said on Wednesday that Egypt's interim government should be given more time to implement an army-imposed roadmap for political transition.

Under the army roadmap, the constitution was suspended and Adly Mansour, head of Egypt's constitutional court, was named interim president.

Greece's top diplomat said his country was in regular contact with the Egyptian government, as Athens will take up the European Union's rotating presidency early next year.