India-Egypt sign agreements on legal assistance

New Delhi, Jan 9: India and Egypt have signed two significant agreements on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters. Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit signed the agreements at Cairo yesterday.

The two countries have decided to increase cooperation in regard to counter-terrorism, illegal trafficking of narcotics, money laundering, capacity building, technological aspects of security management and related priorities. Earlier on Monday, in the preliminary talks Mr Patil had with and his Egyptian counterpart General Habib Ibrahim El Adly, both the leaders were in agreement that sustained bilateral engagement and cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs of India and the Ministry of Interior of Egypt would not only reinforce the existing multi-faceted relations between India and Egypt, but also facilitate better strategisation against the divisive, disruptive and violent challenges which the world faces.

It was further agreed that such cooperation should include sharing of views and experience as also development/activation of operational mechanisms in regard to policing, internal security related matters and capacity-building.

Following the talks, discussions were held between the official delegations of the Home Ministry of India and the Interior Ministry of Egypt, led by the respective Ministers. It was decided to continue the dialogue with a view to imparting tangible shape and content to the ideas which were focussed upon by the Leaders of the two delegations.

UNI