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| Egyptian President in Berlin on Shortened Europe Visit | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BERLIN — President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt arrived for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, but, with his country caught up in violence that has severely dented state authority and threatened the country’s transition to democracy, he was reported to have canceled a planned onward trip to Paris in order to fly back to Cairo later. | BERLIN — President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt arrived for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, but, with his country caught up in violence that has severely dented state authority and threatened the country’s transition to democracy, he was reported to have canceled a planned onward trip to Paris in order to fly back to Cairo later. |
| Germany is Egypt’s third most important trading partner and, according to an official schedule for his visit, Mr. Morsi was to meet with leaders of industry as well as the chancellor, hoping to convince them to bring badly needed investment to his country. | Germany is Egypt’s third most important trading partner and, according to an official schedule for his visit, Mr. Morsi was to meet with leaders of industry as well as the chancellor, hoping to convince them to bring badly needed investment to his country. |
| The cancellation of his trip to Paris was reported by French and Egyptian officials. | The cancellation of his trip to Paris was reported by French and Egyptian officials. |
| In Berlin, German officials signaled that Mr. Morsi will face questions about his democratic credentials after declaring a state of emergency in three Suez Canal cities gripped by protest and violence. | In Berlin, German officials signaled that Mr. Morsi will face questions about his democratic credentials after declaring a state of emergency in three Suez Canal cities gripped by protest and violence. |
| Before Mr. Morsi arrived, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle stressed the importance of democratic reforms in Egypt in exchange for economic support from Berlin. | Before Mr. Morsi arrived, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle stressed the importance of democratic reforms in Egypt in exchange for economic support from Berlin. |
| “We have seen worrying images in recent days, images of violence and destruction. I appeal to both sides to engage in dialogue,” Mr. Westerwelle told Deutsche Welle state broadcaster. | “We have seen worrying images in recent days, images of violence and destruction. I appeal to both sides to engage in dialogue,” Mr. Westerwelle told Deutsche Welle state broadcaster. |
| At the same time, he urged the West to have patience with Egypt, expressing understanding for the difficulties facing Mr. Morsi in leading his country through a transformation. | At the same time, he urged the West to have patience with Egypt, expressing understanding for the difficulties facing Mr. Morsi in leading his country through a transformation. |
| Last year Egypt received around $130 million in development aid from the German government. Germany’s industry sector also views Egypt as having great potential, given its strategic location and size. | Last year Egypt received around $130 million in development aid from the German government. Germany’s industry sector also views Egypt as having great potential, given its strategic location and size. |
| Mr. Morsi is traveling with a delegation of business officials who will meet with representatives of German industry to set up a bilateral trade commission. | Mr. Morsi is traveling with a delegation of business officials who will meet with representatives of German industry to set up a bilateral trade commission. |
Mayy El Sheikh contributed reporting from Cairo and Victor Homola contributed reporting from Berlin. | Mayy El Sheikh contributed reporting from Cairo and Victor Homola contributed reporting from Berlin. |