São Paulo – The Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, has postponed a visit to Brazil which was scheduled for the 28th. According to diplomatic sources questioned by ANBA, a new date for the trip has yet to be set.
“The visit has been postponed due to domestic appointments of the president,” said Ahmed Saleh, the consul at the Egyptian embassy to Brasília. Saleh claims, however, that Morsi “is keenly interested in relations with Brazil.”
According to the Brazilian foreign office, a new date is being negotiated because the Egyptian has made it clear that he wants to visit the country.
Morsi was going to travel to Brazil on an official visit prior to heading to Peru, where the Summit of South American-Arab Countries (Aspa) will take place on October 1st and 2nd, and after attending the UN General Assembly next week in New York.
The Arab embassy has informed that Morsi will no longer attend the Aspa Summit. He should only take part in the United Nations meeting.
Elected in June this year after protests led to the downfall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime, Morsi is faced with the challenge of setting the house in order after 30 years of dictatorship, and must address religious disputes, economic issues, and political quarrels, including the drafting of a new constitution.
Last week, a new element of instability was added to the Egyptian political, as protests erupted in Cairo against a film which mocks the prophet Mohammed, and which was deemed offensive by Muslims.
*With the collaboration of Alexandre Rocha. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
