Germany summons Egypt's ambassador over foundation's closing
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The German Foreign Office has summoned the Egyptian ambassador to express incomprehension about the closure of a German foundation's office in Cairo.
The foreign office said in a statement State Secretary Markus Ederer told Ambassador Badr Abdelatty Thursday to reopen the office of the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation, which is linked to the liberal Free Democrats party.
The statement stressed that the government will continue its support of German political foundations' important work in Egypt with "appropriate measures."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The statement also said the foundations "need to be able to do (their work) in an environment of increasing political pressure on civil society."
The Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation said on its website it had already moved its main office to Jordan in 2014, but had continued to keep the small office in Egypt that was closed.