"Egyptian-US relations have since their resumption in the mid-1970s been premised on mutual respect and realizing joint interests to serve peace, stability in development goals in the region," Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said the strength of Egyptian-American relations should not, however, be used as a pretext to make judgmental statements about internal developments in either of the two countries, referring to statements by US Undersecretary of State William Burns on alleged imprisonment of those calling for political change in Egypt.

He pointed out that such statements reflected lack of knowledge of what was really going on in Egypt in terms of the serious and accelerated steps in the field of political reform.

Any fair observer of political developments in Egypt will realize clearly the huge space for freedom of expression in society in general and in journalism in particular, he stated.

Prison sentences issued against anyone in Egypt, including political activists, are carried out through a credible judicial process, he said.

However, Egyptian-American dialogue on developments in the region is important and constant and the cooperation between the two countries is the basis of stability in the region, he emphasized.