2 March ,2008... President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, paid a visit to Cairo on February the 24th, which he had been willing to  visit since November 2007, outlining that his keenness to visit Egypt stems from its being one of the most important countries not only in the region, but also in the entire European neighborhood countries. Mr. Pöttering wished to make positive use of the visit as it concurs with declaring 2008 a year for dialogue between cultures on one hand, and as means of fostering Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary relations on the other. Speaker of the People's Assembly, Dr. Ahmed Fathi Sorour, welcomed this initiative, as he invited Mr. Pöttering to visit Egypt on February 2008 and preparations were made to arrange for high level meetings. However, after the European Parliament issued the statement on human rights in Egypt, it was decided that the meetings would not include  the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and Sheikh of El-Azhar El- Sharif. Speaker  of the People's Assembly held a meeting between five committees in the Assembly and President of the European Parliament, which was attended by a number of European ambassadors , as well as Minister of State for Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils, Dr. Mufid Shehab, and Minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Aboul Naga, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador Fatma El-Zahraa Etman, and Assistant Foreign Minister, Director of the Department of People's Assembly and the Shura Council Affairs, Ambassador Mammoud Mohamed Aouf. The speech of the President of the People's Assembly, Dr. Ahmed Fathi Sorour, included: - Stressing that the Barcelona Declaration stipulates that the Euro-Mediterranean partners must refrain from any direct or indirect interference in the internal affairs of other partners, and from any unilateral measure except after conducting dialogue in the Partnership Council, without dictations or arrogance between both sides. - Indicating the negative image promulgated by some Europeans against Arabs and Muslims under the pretext of freedom of expression such as the caricatures against Prophet Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him) and the intention of a Dutch Parliament member to shoot a film distorting the image of Islam, in violation of  the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN General Assembly resolution no. 36/55 for 1981, as well as the European Court of Justice for Human Rights resolutions. - Indicating the importance of protecting the Palestinian people's rights from the violations of the occupation authorities.   The speech of the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering included:   - Partnership between the European Parliament and Egypt is strong enough to overcome the small crises and that severing ties is not a solution for the disputes that may occur.    - The resolution adopted recently by the European Parliament on human rights in Egypt, was taken the sub-committee for human rights and was agreed upon by the heads of political groups in order to assert the European Parliament's contribution to the following meeting of the sub-committee for human rights in Egypt and the European Union, and was based on accurate and verified information, which will constitute the basis for the continuous dialogue with the partners.   - The success achieved by Egypt  in some fields such as the liberalizing the communication sector and the emancipation of women, and that Egypt is prepared to annul  the state of  emergency and substitute it with the anti terrorism law.   - Indicating the European Parliament's stance towards the Palestinian cause, and its recent decision on the humanitarian situation in Gaza; the Parliament commended Egypt's stance regarding the border issue in Rafah.   - Indicating Europe's encouragement to  the dialogue between civilizations and declaring  2008 the European year for dialogue between cultures, and considering the Muslims in Europe a part of the European society although they were not integrated as they should , but they are able to build their mosques and perform their religious rituals, and that Europe is determined to improve  their circumstances.   - The discussions included inquiring  about the European Parliament's stance on the Palestinian people's rights, and the rights of their deputies and head of the legislative council, as well as the Islam defamation campaign in Europe. Egypt expressed its refusal for any foreign dictations in Egyptian  internal affairs, confronting the Israeli nuclear arsenal in parallel to the criticisms against Iran.   Mr. Pöttering underlined that the European Parliament has already issued a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and requested the Israeli Knesset to release the Palestinian Parliamentarians, and not to defy the symbols of Islam.   Mr. Pöttering issued a press statement when he returned home, which included:   - Affirming that the European Parliament has strategic partnership relations with Egypt.   - Asserting the principle of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among all religions, and the importance of fostering values of understanding and dialogue between cultures.   - Indicating the necessity of surpassing the effect of the last European Parliament's decision on Egypt, and that all sides must move positively and constructively, and that divergence will not achieve any interests to any of the two sides.   - Affirming the importance of the attempts of Parliamentary circles to influence the governments and deepen commitment to the principles of democracy and human rights and basic freedoms. - Commending Egypt's stance towards the Palestinian people in Gaza during the Rafah crisis.   - Inviting Dr. Sorour to visit the European Parliament.