There is “progress” in the effort to restore flights between Russia and Egypt, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, according to Sputnik after talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Lavrov did not explain what that “progress” meant or what it would take to restore the flights. He said during his meeting with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry: “Today we have noted positive progress in the work of specialists who are solving the relevant issues and proceed from the premise that there will be additional clarity regarding the prospects for resumed direct flights in the very near future.” We note, meanwhile, that the president of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, sang Egypt’s praises on airport security on Sunday.

…Likely related and also “in progress”: Lavrov also said “we have many other large-scale projects, the discussion of the nuclear power plant project is still in progress … I hope that the forthcoming meeting of the intergovernmental commission in September will help advance the issue and the project of creating an industrial zone on the banks of the Suez Canal with participation of Russia.” According to Russian state news agency TASS, Lavrov said construction on the Dabaa nuclear plant is contingent in three final contracts being signed. Separately, an Egyptian advisor to the Roscosmos State Corporation, Hussein Al Shafei, expects contractors to break ground on the USD 25 bn Dabaa nuke site in October, according to Egypt Independent.

Also high up on the agenda of talks were regional political developments, particularly Egypt’s role as mediator on the Syrian Civil War. But don’t expect Egypt to play a military role in Syria, Shoukry said at a joint conference with Lavrov, Egypt Independent reports. "Russia and Egypt work actively to help with formation of a collective delegation from the Syrian opposition for talks with the government," said Lavrov, according to TASS. Talks also covered Libya, on which little information was made public.

Shoukry also met with Russia’s Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov to discuss Russian investment in Egypt, particularly in the oil and gas sector, Al Shorouk reports.

Shoukry is expected to head next to Estonia and Lithuania following the meetings in Moscow, according to Ahram Online.