The following statement has been issued by a Federal Foreign Office spokesperson:

This afternoon (20 July) Foreign Minister Westerwelle talked on the phone to the Foreign Minister in Egypt’s interim Government, Nabil Fahmy.

In the course of their conversation Foreign Minister Fahmy explained the interim Government’s political road map. Foreign Minister Westerwelle emphasized the need for Egypt’s democracy-building and reform process to continue. An inclusive political process was imperative, he noted. That required the participation of all major forces in society. To be successful, the return to democracy had to have broad support, he added. That was the only way to overcome the current polarization of Egyptian society.