Egypt’s interim president visits Saudi Arabia to ‘thank’ kingdom

Egyptian Interim President Adly Mansour arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to thank the kingdom for its support following the overthrow of President Mohammad Mursi in July 3.

Mansour was greeted in Jeddah’s airport by the kingdom’s Defense Minister and Crown Prince Salman bin Abdel Aziz.

“The Egyptian interim president thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their stance supporting the will of the Egyptian people and supporting Egypt to overcome its economic crisis which resulted from events that took place recently,” the Saudi press agency said in a statement.

“Visiting the kingdom was a must, as I had to thank the custodian of the two holy mosques (King Abdullah) personally on his supportive stances that comforted the Egyptians,” Mansour told the daily Asharq al-Awsat.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz reiterated the Gulf kingdom’s support for Egypt’s declared fight against terrorist elements in the country.

“We will support Egypt against terrorism, delusion and sedition and those who try to undermine its security,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as saying during the meeting with Mansour.

King Abdullah was the first foreign head of state to congratulate Egypt's interim president hours after his appointment following the ouster of former President Mohammad Mursi.

Saudi Arabia offered in July a $5 billion aid package to Egypt’s new government, as the Arab world’s biggest country struggled with a high budget deficit and rising unemployment.

Part of that aid, $2 billion, was in the form of petroleum and gas aid products, Al Arabiya television quoted the kingdom’s finance minister as saying.

Another $2 billion was in the form of a deposit at Egypt's central bank and $1 billion was given to the struggling Arab nation as a grant.