Egypt sets top priority to Gulf security

Post-revolution Egypt sets a top priority to Arabian Gulf security and historical bonds between Cairo and Gulf countries, an Egyptian newspaper reported here Monday. Egypt is very keen on further cementing and beefing up its ties with all sisterly Arab countries, Monday's state-owned Al-Ahram said in its editorial, indicating that Egypt's priorities would surely reflect its foreign policy. The "government of the revolution", which came to power at the behest of Tahrir Square protesters and with the blessing of the governing Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, has chosen to extend bridges of cooperation with all world countries, it said. Egypt has resorted to "soft diplomacy" , hinging upon the country's heritage and asset of soft force, in lieu of the defiant revolutionary tune, Al-Ahram, Egypt's leading newspaper, said. "The august school of Egyptian diplomacy reopened its doors when Nabil Al-Araby became foreign minister. New Foreign Minister Mohamed Al-Orabi will follow in his predecessor's footsteps through soft diplomacy," it added. This diplomacy is reliant upon Egypt's historical and cultural position that enables it to forge distinguished relations with all world nations, the paper pointed out. Earlier on Sunday, Egypt's new Foreign Minister Mohamed Al-Orabi was sworn in before Chairman of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Hussein Tantawi. Al-Orabi is the successor of Nabil Al-Arabi who was handpicked as new secretary general of the Arab League. The new foreign minister had said he would depend on soft diplomacy based on Egypt's historical and cultural position.