Kushner Meets With Egypt President Amid Dispute Over Aid Cut
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met presidential adviser Jared Kushner on Wednesday after the United States decided to withhold millions of dollars in aid.
Two U.S. sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday that Washington had decided to deny Egypt $95.7 million in aid and to delay a further $195 million because it had failed to make progress on respecting human rights and democracy.
Kushner’s visit, part of a wider Middle East trip, had been scheduled before the U.S. aid decision was announced and had been billed as an opportunity for discussing the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump and one of his close advisers, met Sisi with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry present, Sisi’s office said in a statement.
He later had a separate meeting with Shoukry, the foreign ministry said.
Neither the presidency nor the foreign ministry mentioned the aid issue in statements released after the meetings, though the foreign ministry had earlier criticized the decision, saying it would have an impact on achieving common goals.
“Egypt sees this measure as reflecting poor judgment,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.—Reuters
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