Russia, Egypt reach agreement on mutual deliveries of agricultural produce

"Russia and Egypt have reached an agreement of principle on mutual deliveries of agricultural produce, including Russian wheal and Egyptian citrus fruit," Russian Vice-Premier and Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev told the press before leaving for homeland on Wednesday evening.

While making a three-day working visit to Egypt the Russian Vice-Premier held meetings and negotiations with Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Obeid and other government members.

In Cairo, Gordeyev said, decisions were taken for a representative delegation of Egypt headed by Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Hasan Khedr to visit Moscow after January 20th, 2003, to work out a draft agreement on deliveries to Egypt of Russian grain for a period of five years. "[Egypt] is interested in deliveries of 1-1.5 million tons of Russian wheal annually and intends to introduce the regime of preferences for Russia," Gordeyev said. On the other hand, the Egyptians expect "us to substantially increase the import of their citrus fruit," Gordeyev concluded.