Egypt’s FM suggests RIZ contracts will be signed next week: Egypt and Russia are expected to sign the contracts for the Russian Industrial Zone during the Egyptian-Russian Economic Summit in Moscow, which will run from 21 to 24 May, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said yesterday, according to a ministry statement. The 5.25 mn sqm zone will be built in the Suez Canal Economic Zone in three phases spanning 13 years, with work on the first phase set to begin this year. Talks to set up the RIZ had begun in 2014.

Russia could restore air travel to Egypt’s Red Sea resorts soon: The current level of security cooperation between Russia and Egypt is setting a “good foundation” for the restoration of direct flights to Egypt’s Red Sea resort towns, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after meeting with Shoukry in Moscow, the Associated Press reports. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Arkady Dvorkovich, had said in February that allowing flights from Russia to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada is still “impossible.”

Russia also “appreciates” Egypt’s refusal to send troops to Syria as part of an Arab military force that would cover America’s withdrawal after defeating Daesh, Lavrov told reporters, TASS says. The Russian minister also said that Cairo and Moscow’s ongoing cooperation is acting as a stabilizing force in the region, “where new hotbeds of tension are snowballing with already existing ones,” according to TASS. The two ministers discussed other regional issues, including the latest developments in Palestine and Israel, as well as anti-terrorism cooperation during their meeting.