Describing the anti-government protests in Egypt as an “internal affair”, India on Tuesday hoped that the African nation finds a solution, acceptable to the protesters, to end the crisis there.
“With reference to what is happening there, it is an internal affair of that country...We hope that a resolution would be found which would be acceptable to those who are demonstrating there,” External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna told reporters at the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
He said the government will make necessary arrangements to bring back Indians from there to the country if they are willing and the Indian Embassy in Cairo is in constant touch with the community.
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“If there are more Indians who want to come back, we will provide the necessary help and necessary aircraft arrangement will be done so that they can come...We are constantly in touch with the Indian community there,” he said.
Making it clear that the government was not forcing anyone to come back to India, he said the ministry has issued an advisory asking citizens to avoid travelling to Egypt.
“Safety of Indians in Egypt is one of our highest priorities. We have already contacted our Ambassador Swaminathan in Cairo and I am in constant touch with him and the Foreign Secretary is in constant touch with our Embassy there,” he said.
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Mr. Krishna said there are about 3,200 Indians in Egypt of which 2,000 are based in Cairo.