Cairo: The British embassy in Cairo on Tuesday said it has resumed its public services more than a week after closing down due to security concerns.
The mission said in a statement that public services are in full operation after security issues related to its building were resolved in cooperation with Egyptian authorities.
“I am pleased that the British Embassy in Cairo has today resumed public services in full,” Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said, according to the statement. “I am very grateful for the close co-operation from the Egyptian Government which has made this re-opening possible,” he added without elaborating.
Hamond said that both countries share “strong bonds”.
“This same cooperation also sees thousands of British holiday-makers heading off for the Egyptian sun every Christmas and New Year,” he added.
Following the embassy’s closure announcement on December 7, Egyptian authorities tightened security in the central Cairo quarter of Garden City, the home of several foreign embassies.
The next day, the Canadian embassy, located in the same area, closed, citing security concerns. the Canadian embassy was still closed on Tuesday.
Calling the resumption of work “great news”, British Ambassador to Egypt John Casson said his country is fully open for business in Egypt.
“In the days ahead, we will be investing in Egyptian education through the new £20 million Newton-Mosharafa fund, welcoming thousands of tourists for the Christmas break, and preparing for a trade mission in January to create Egyptian jobs with British investment,” Casson said.
“Britain’s commitment to Egypt’s success is as deep and strong as ever.”
There was no Egyptian official comment.
During the past week, several Egyptian commentators claimed that the closure of the British and Canadian embassies were aimed at ruining the winter holiday season for the Egyptian tourism industry, which has been hard hit by more than three years of political turmoil. Tourism is a major foreign currency earner for Egypt.
The country has seen a series of deadly attacks targeting mainly security forces since the army deposed Islamist president Mohammad Mursi in mid-2013 following enormous street protests against his one-year rule.
