Pentagon chief calls Egyptian counterpart on military ties

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has called his Egyptian counterpart Sedki Sobhy and informed him that Secretary of State John Kerry will soon certify to Congress that Egypt is sustaining the strategic relationship with the United States and is meeting its obligations under the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, a statement of U.S. Defense Department said on Wednesday.

In the statement summarizing Hagel's Tuesday phone call to Sobhy, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said these certifications are required to obligate fiscal year 2014 funds for assistance to the Egyptian government.

"Secretary Hagel told General Sobhy that we are not yet able to certify that Egypt is taking steps to support a democratic transition," Kirby said, "and he urged the Egyptian government to demonstrate progress on a more inclusive transition that respects THE human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Egyptians."

Hagel also informed Sobhy of President Barack Obama's decision to deliver 10 Apache helicopters in support of Egypt's counterterrorism operations in the Sinai (a triangular peninsula situated between the Mediterranean sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south), Kirby said.

"The secretary noted that we believe these new helicopters will help the Egyptian government counter extremists who threaten U.S., Egyptian, and Israeli security," he added.

Egypt is considered one of the United States important allies in the Middle East and Arab world. It gets 1.3 billion dollars of U.S. military aid each year.

However, the United States partially froze military assistance to Egypt as a result of the instability surrounding the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi last year and the crackdown by Egypt's military-backed government on the Morsi-allied Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing.

Under U.S. law, for the 1.3 billion to flow, the secretary of state must certify that the Egyptian government "is supporting the transition to civilian government, including holding free and fair election, implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association and religion and due process of law."