White House National Security advisor, Tom Donilon, met with Egyptian Assistant to the President for Foreign Relations to discuss bilateral issues, the White House confirmed late Tuesday. Donilon met with Dr. Essam El-Haddad in Washington, where they reaffirmed the strategic relationship between the US and Egypt. \"They discussed a broad range of issues, including our bilateral economic cooperation, joint efforts to promote regional security and build on the cease-fire in Gaza, in addition to Egypt\'s democratic transition and the need to move forward with a peaceful and inclusive transition that respects the rights of all Egyptians,\" according to a White House statement. The meeting follows protests in Cairo in the wake of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi\'s controversial drive to hold a referendum on a new constitution.