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Kerry in Egypt for Highest-Level American Visit Since Morsi’s Ouster Kerry in Egypt for Highest-Level American Visit Since Morsi’s Ouster
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — In the highest-level American visit since the Egyptian military removed Mohamed Morsi from power, Secretary of State John Kerry arrived here on Sunday to prod Egypt to move ahead with democratic reforms and try to improve the United States’ strained relations with Cairo. CAIRO — In the highest-level American visit since the Egyptian military removed Mohamed Morsi from power, Secretary of State John Kerry arrived here on Sunday to prod Egypt to move ahead with democratic reforms and to try to improve the United States’ strained relations with Cairo.
The visit comes one day before Mr. Morsi, who has been held incommunicado since he was ousted in July, is to put on trial on murder charges. The visit comes one day before Mr. Morsi, who has been held incommunicado since he was ousted in July, is to be put on trial on murder charges.
Mr. Kerry is also the first senior American official to visit since the White House decided last month to withhold the delivery of sophisticated arms to signal its concern over the Egyptian military’s crackdown on dissenters and its tarnished record on human rights.Mr. Kerry is also the first senior American official to visit since the White House decided last month to withhold the delivery of sophisticated arms to signal its concern over the Egyptian military’s crackdown on dissenters and its tarnished record on human rights.
During his visit here, Mr. Kerry will meet with Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s foreign minister, and with Adly Mansour, the interim president.During his visit here, Mr. Kerry will meet with Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s foreign minister, and with Adly Mansour, the interim president.
Mr. Kerry plans to meet with what the State Department described as “Egyptian civil society leaders.” That meeting, which will not be open to the news media, will be an opportunity for critics of the Egyptian government, and perhaps American policy, to express their concerns. No list of Egyptians invited to the session was provided prior to Mr. Kerry’s arrival.Mr. Kerry plans to meet with what the State Department described as “Egyptian civil society leaders.” That meeting, which will not be open to the news media, will be an opportunity for critics of the Egyptian government, and perhaps American policy, to express their concerns. No list of Egyptians invited to the session was provided prior to Mr. Kerry’s arrival.
Mr. Kerry’s final meeting will be with Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, the powerful defense minister who spearheaded the ouster of Mr. Morsi. Mr. Kerry’s final meeting will be with Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, the powerful defense minister, who spearheaded the ouster of Mr. Morsi.
“The goal of this discussion is to advocate clearly and directly face to face for the kind of progress that we’re looking for in Egypt,” said a senior State Department official who is traveling with Mr. Kerry.“The goal of this discussion is to advocate clearly and directly face to face for the kind of progress that we’re looking for in Egypt,” said a senior State Department official who is traveling with Mr. Kerry.
“Because the Morsi trial happens to be the day after the Secretary is going to be there, the Secretary will be simply advocating to the government to ensure that all Egyptians are afforded due process, transparency and open trials,” the official added. “As you know, we’ve consistently called for the end to politicized arrests and detentions, and we’ll continue to do that.” “Because the Morsi trial happens to be the day after the secretary is going to be there, the secretary will be simply advocating to the government to ensure that all Egyptians are afforded due process, transparency and open trials,” the official added. “As you know, we’ve consistently called for the end to politicized arrests and detentions, and we’ll continue to do that.”
Mr. Kerry visited Cairo last spring and met with Mr. Morsi in an attempt to encourage him to proceed with economic reforms and negotiate seriously with the International Monetary Fund. After that meeting, Mr. Kerry announced he was sufficiently encouraged to authorize the release of millions in American assistance.Mr. Kerry visited Cairo last spring and met with Mr. Morsi in an attempt to encourage him to proceed with economic reforms and negotiate seriously with the International Monetary Fund. After that meeting, Mr. Kerry announced he was sufficiently encouraged to authorize the release of millions in American assistance.
But American officials assert that Mr. Kerry later became frustrated with Mr. Morsi’s unwillingness or inability to make tough economic decisions.But American officials assert that Mr. Kerry later became frustrated with Mr. Morsi’s unwillingness or inability to make tough economic decisions.
After Mr. Morsi was ousted from power, Mr. Kerry stirred controversy by suggesting that the Egyptian military’s move against him represented an opportunity to restore democracy, a stance that was more forward leaning than the White House. After Mr. Morsi was ousted from power, Mr. Kerry stirred controversy by suggesting that the Egyptian military’s move against him represented an opportunity to restore democracy, a stance that was more forwardleaning than that of the White House.
The Obama administration has refrained from categorizing the Egyptian military’s toppling of Mr. Morsi as a coup, which would trigger a cut-off of foreign assistance. But it has been critical of its brutal crackdown of demonstrators and detention of Morsi supporters. The Obama administration has refrained from categorizing the Egyptian military’s toppling of Mr. Morsi as a coup, which would trigger a cutoff of foreign assistance. But it has been critical of the brutal crackdown on demonstrators and the detention of Morsi supporters.
To signal its concern, the White House in October suspended the delivery of major weapons systems, including Apache helicopters, F-16 warplanes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and parts for M1-A1 tank parts, and is also withholding some $260 million in support for the Egyptian budget. To signal its concern, the White House in October suspended the delivery of major weapons systems, including Apache helicopters, F-16 warplanes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and M1-A1 tank parts, and is also withholding about $260 million in support for the Egyptian budget.
But the United States is continuing support for Egypt on counterterrorism program, including the Egyptian military efforts to secure Sinai, which has become a sanctuary for militants. Washington is also continuing to provide spare parts for weapons in the military’s inventory. But the United States is continuing support for Egypt on counterterrorism programs, including the Egyptian military efforts to secure Sinai, which has become a sanctuary for militants. Washington is also continuing to provide spare parts for weapons in the military’s inventory.
The Obama administration’s partial aid suspension is a modest gesture that has been more than made up for by billions of dollars in assistance from the Saudis, who support the Egyptian military’s crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. The Obama administration’s partial aid suspension is a modest gesture that has been more than made up for by billions of dollars in assistance from the Saudis, who support the Egyptian military’s crackdown on Mr. Morsi’s party, the Muslim Brotherhood.
The senior State Department official said that the decision of whether to lift the suspension of major weapons deliveries will depend on the Egyptian authorities’ steps to protect human rights, ensure freedom of the press, allow peaceful demonstrations and permit activities by non-governmental organizations, among other measures. The senior State Department official said that the decision on whether to lift the suspension of major weapons deliveries would depend on the Egyptian authorities’ steps to protect human rights, ensure freedom of the press, allow peaceful demonstrations and permit activities by nongovernmental organizations, among other measures.
Since the military takeover, Egypt’s generals have appeared to be immune to American pressure and indifferent to Mr. Kerry’s seeming endorsement of their motivations. They have also complained that the U.S. has shown favoritism toward Mr. Morsi and his supporters by criticizing the military government’s crackdown on Islamists. Since the military takeover, Egypt’s generals have appeared to be immune to American pressure and indifferent to Mr. Kerry’s seeming endorsement of their motivations. They have also complained that the United States has shown favoritism toward Mr. Morsi and his supporters by criticizing the military government’s crackdown on Islamists.
Thousands of Morsi supporters demonstrated against his arrest on Friday, the start of what they said would be four days of protests.Thousands of Morsi supporters demonstrated against his arrest on Friday, the start of what they said would be four days of protests.
State Department officials said that Mr. Kerry’s arrival on the day before Mr. Morsi’s trial is coincidental since the Cairo stop here is part of a broader eight-nation trip. State Department officials said that Mr. Kerry’s arrival on the day before Mr. Morsi’s trial was coincidental, since the Cairo stop is part of a broader eight-nation trip.
After his talks here, Mr. Kerry will head to Riyadh where he will try, in a meeting with King Abdullah, to repair the Obama administration’s fraught relationship with Saudi Arabia. After his talks here, Mr. Kerry will head to Riyadh, where he will try, in a meeting with King Abdullah, to repair the Obama administration’s fraught relationship with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis have been deeply unhappy with the United States’ lukewarm support for the Syrian opposition, are worried that the White House may be too quick to make concessions in the newly reinvigorated talks with Iran, and have also been squarely behind the Egyptian military takeover. The Saudis have been deeply unhappy with the United States’ lukewarm support for the Syrian opposition, are worried that the White House may be too quick to make concessions in the newly reinvigorated talks with Iran and have also been squarely behind the Egyptian military takeover.
Mr. Kerry will also be visiting Israel and Jordan to try to encourage progress in the Middle East peace talks, which has long been his top diplomatic priority. No headway in those negotiations has been announced.Mr. Kerry will also be visiting Israel and Jordan to try to encourage progress in the Middle East peace talks, which has long been his top diplomatic priority. No headway in those negotiations has been announced.
He will also be making visits to Poland, Algeria and Morocco.He will also be making visits to Poland, Algeria and Morocco.

Kareem Fahim contributed reporting.