US 'COMMITTED' TO EGYPT'S ECONOMIC GROWTH, SECURITY: KERRY

**U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says that Washington was “committed” to supporting Egypt’s security and economy.**(Photo: Anadolu Agency)

Cairo, 23 Jumadil Awwal 1436/14 March 2015 (MINA) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that Washington was “committed” to supporting Egypt’s security and economy.

Kerry’s statements came during a speech he delivered in the opening session of Egypt’s three-day economic summit, which kicked off Friday in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

“The U.S. is committed to supporting Egypt’s economic reform. The American people are committed to the security and well-being of the Egyptian people,” Kerry said, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“There is no question that the emergence of a strong, prosperous and democratic Egypt is critical for a strong and prosperous region,” he asserted.

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“We will work with you to secure the ambitious goals you have laid out,” Washington’s top diplomat told Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

Kerry’s ‘Israel’ slip in Egypt ‘unintended’: US embassy

The U.S. embassy in Cairo attributed a slip of the tongue by Kerry – in which he confused Egypt with Israel – to an “all-night flight” and Kerry’s attendance of a morning event.

“Clear theme of John Kerry speech and visit today: confidence in Egypt’s future. All night flight + morning event = unintended slip (wrong country!),” the embassy said via Twitter.

Kerry’s remark came during a reception on Friday held on the sidelines of Egypt’s economic summit, which kicked off later the same day.

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“We all strive for the future of Israel,” Kerry inadvertently said in his speech at the reception, before quickly rectifying his mistake and saying “Egypt.”

Egypt is expected to unveil a host of potential investment projects at the summit in hopes of luring investment to shore up its economy, which has been badly battered by four years of turmoil since a 2011 popular uprising ousted autocratic President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt received a total of $4.7 billion worth of foreign investment during the 2013/14 fiscal year.

The Egyptian government is eyeing gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4 percent in 2014/15, up from 2.1 percent the previous fiscal year. (T/P010/P3)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)