Kerry says United States, Egypt return to 'stronger base' in relationship

The United States and Egypt are returning to a ?stronger base? in their relationship despite tensions and concerns over human rights, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Aug. 2 at the first strategic dialogue between the two sides since 2009. 

U.S.-Egyptian relations cooled considerably after Islamist president Mohamed Mursi was ousted in 2013 by the military amid mass protests against his rule. 

Egypt?s Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri told a joint news conference with Kerry in Cairo that his country had no major disagreements with the United States but that there were ?differences in points of view over some issues, which is natural.? 

Despite U.S. concerns about Egypt?s lagging democratic reforms, Cairo remains one of its closest security allies in the Middle East, an increasingly crucial role in a region beset by turmoil in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. 

Kerry said the talks had tackled increased cooperation on border security with neighboring Libya. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have exploited a power vacuum in Libya to gain a foothold there, creating worries of a potential spillover of violence. Earlier this year, ISIL militants in Libya beheaded 21 Egyptian Christians, prompting Egyptian air strikes on militant targets. 

Kerry also said he and Shukri had agreed on the importance of ensuring ?free, fair and transparent? parliamentary elections due by the end of the year after long delays. 

While Washington has prized former general Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led Mursi?s overthrow and was elected to succeed him, for the stability he has brought to Egypt, it has also cautiously criticized Egypt?s human rights record and a crackdown on Mursi?s Muslim Brotherhood. 

The...