Egypt's Relations With U.S.: 'It's Like A Marriage. It's Not A Fling'
Egypt's leadership has faced a steady stream of criticism since the military ousted an elected government last summer and began cracking down on its opponents. In the latest development, an Egyptian judge on Monday sentenced nearly 700 people to death, many of them members or supporters of the now banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy is touring the U.S. and defending his government, which he says is committed to restoring democracy. He also insists the country's courts are independent and are not being used as a tool against opposition.
"Our judiciary is independent. We don't comment on their cases until they finish all of the appeal process," Fahmy said Tuesday during a visit to NPR's headquarters in Washington.
The Egyptian foreign minister told All Things Considered host Robert Siegel that Egypt placed great importance on its long-standing relationship with the U.S. despite the recent strains between Cairo and Washington.
"It's like a marriage. It's not a fling," Fahmy said of the ties.
You can read more highlights from the conversation below.