17 June 2007….  Assistant Foreign Minister for American Affairs and Organization of American States, Ambassador Hatem Seif El-Nasr, paid a visit to Uruguay during the period from 15 to 17 June 2007, within the framework of a tour to some Latin American countries, which also includes Argentina and Chile. Assistant Foreign Minister for American Affairs held a series of meetings with Uruguayan officials, including the Foreign Minister, the Head of House of Representatives, Chief of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, and Head of the Mercosur Group. The official consultation session between Egypt and Uruguay was held at the premises of the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry in Montevideo, where Ambassador Hatem Seif El-Nasr headed the Egyptian side, whereas the Uruguayan side was headed by Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Ambassador Belela Herrera. The bilateral deliberation agenda included talks over the political relations, international issues of common interest, and means to boost commercial ties between both countries. Ambassador Sief El-NAsr underlined Egypt's keenness to enhance its relations with the Latin American countries in all fields. He pointed out that his visit to Uruguay comes within the framework of fostering cooperation relations, and carrying on coordination and consultation between the two countries in all issues of common interest, especially in light of the current coordination between both Egyptian and Uruguayan diplomacy in various international circles and organizations. Ambassador Seif El-Nasr tackled the situation in the Middle East, and elaborated the efforts exerted by Egypt to pacify the situation in the Gaza Strip and to resume the Peace Process, as well as the Arab Peace Initiative which was put forward once again during the Arab Summit in Riyadh. He also outlined the political situation in Egypt, especially in the political field and the development of Egypt’s democracy, the recent constitutional amendments, and the mid-term renewal elections of the Shura Council. Furthermore, the Assistant Foreign Minister for American Affairs outlined the advancements in Egypt’s economic performance and the investment opportunities in Egypt, referring to the good investment opportunities that can be achieved now via exchanging visits between business men from both countries. He also noted the possibility that countries of the Mercosur Group benefit from Egypt's membership in various economic regional groups and blocs, including the COMESA, through which they can gain access to the African markets. Seif El-Nasr also pointed to Egypt's keenness to develop its relations with the South American countries in all fields, underscoring the importance of investing on the current regional and international conditions to achieve this aim, especially after the Arab-Latin American Summit was held, which offered an opportunity for cooperation between the two regions, or through the regional gatherings such as the Mercosur. He expressed the Egyptian desire to boost relations with Uruguay in all fields within the framework of the inter-regional South-South cooperation. The Uruguayan officials praised Egypt's vital role in the region, as a result of which they are commited to carry on with their participation in the multinational troops in Sinai with a military brigade since 1982. The tour is the second held during this year by the Assistant Foreign Minister for American Affairs to Latin American countries. His first tour included Mexico, Brasilia, Cuba and Panama. Both visits stemmed from the Egyptian diplomacy's keenness to develop its relations with the Latin American countries, in order to acquaint these countries with the investment potentials and opportunities in Egypt.