Egypt regrets US decision to cut aid

Cairo, Aug 23 (IANS/AKI) Egypt on Wednesday slammed a decision by Washington to withhold over $290 million in military and economic aid to the country - reportedly due to its failure to make progress on human rights and democracy - warning this could have "negative implications".

"Egypt regrets the decision of the US to reduce some of the funds allocated under the US assistance programme," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Egypt sees this measure as reflecting poor judgment of the strategic relationship that binds the two countries over decades and reflects the lack of understanding of the importance of supporting the stability and success of Egypt," it said.

The decision could have "negative implications" on achieving common goals and interests between the two countries, it added.

The statement came after Reuters and Associated Press news agencies on Tuesday cited anonymous officials as saying that Washington had decided to deny Egypt $95.7 million in aid and to delay a further $195 million.

The aid cut by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson included $65.7 million of military assistance and $30 million in economic aid that has been on hold since 2014 financial year.

Egypt cancelled a meeting on Wednesday in Cairo between its Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and White House adviser Jared Kushner and US officials, apparently in protest at the reported US move.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was however still slated to meet the US delegation.

The Trump administration's move came after Sisi in June allowed a controversial law regulating NGOs law to go into effect despite earlier assurances it would not pass, angering US officials.

Human rights groups and activists have said the new law - widely seen as part of a growing crackdown on dissent - effectively bans their work and makes it harder for charities to operate.

Egypt receives $1.3 billion annually in military aid from the US and nearly $250 million in economic assistance, according to state-run daily Al-Ahram.

(This story has not been edited by Social News XYZ staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)