U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi in Cairo. Kerry reiterated support from Washington to the new military-backed regime., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Kerry's message in Cairo
Dina Ezzat, Sunday 3 Nov 2013
Ahram Online
US Secretary of State comes to town with a mixed bag of apprehension and reassurances in first visit since Morsi's ouster
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with top Egypt officials to convey Washington's "deep concern" about the transitional period and to offer the US's goodwill should developments move "on the right track," according to Western diplomats.
It is Kerry's first visit to Cairo since the ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July following mass protests against his rule.
Across Cairo's official quarters, Kerry's visit is widely perceived as representing tacit approval of the Muslim Brotherhoods "irreversible end."
According to one high-level Egyptian official, "some regional capitals – to be frank, Ankara and Doha – assessed that Morsi's removal could be reversed by Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations if backed by external support."
"Now, it has become clear that despite the admitted opposition to Morsi's removal, a larger segment of Egypt's society is not willing to have the Muslim Brotherhood back."
"The fact that Kerry has decided to stop in Cairo, even if for only a very few hours, after he has repeatedly ignored Egypt during his Middle East visits, is a clear indication that Morsi's chapter has been closed once and for all," he added.
Kerry's visit came less than 24 hours before Morsi is due in court to face charges of incitement to murder during the 2012 Ittihadiya presidential palace clashes.
Foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Atti said that the visit is not related to Morsi's trial, as some have speculated. "The trip was due to take place later in the course of Kerry's regional tour, but it was adjusted to line up with foreign minister Nabil Fahmy's schedule," Abdel-Atti said.
Kerry will be meeting with Fahmy, army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, and Interim President Adly Mansour.
Sources say the top-level US diplomat is expected to be accommodating, especially during his meeting with Mansour, who gave a cold shoulder to US President Barack Obama's Eid Al-Adha greetings.
"It is not business as usual in terms of our relations with the US, but let me be very precise: we have problems, but we are not giving up on each other. There is too much at stake for both sides. This is the official line of both the foreign ministry and the defence ministry," an Egyptian diplomatic source clarified.
That said, Cairo expects Kerry to share Washington's apprehension over freedom and human rights violations during the transitional period. The US has directly shared such concerns, namely with regards to police violations against Islamist demonstrations, in calls between Fahmy and Kerry and El-Sisi and his US counterpart, according to Ahram Online sources.
According to one Western diplomat in Cairo, in light of the recent "ban" of satirist Bassem Youssef's popular TV show and a leaked recording of a journalist being tortured at a police station, "it is not only the Islamists who are coming under attack, it is liberties and freedom as well."
During his visit to Cairo, Kerry will also discuss developments in Syria, to be considered by Arab League ministers in a special session this evening at the organisation's headquarters.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/85490.aspx
November 03, 2013
Kerry: US a Partner of Egypt, Aid Cutback Not Punishment
VOA
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told Egypt's army-backed government that Washington remains a committed "friend and partner" despite suspending some military aid to Cairo.
Speaking on a six-hour visit to the Egyptian capital on Sunday, Kerry said the recent U.S. aid suspension is a minor issue and does not represent a punishment.
In a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmy, he said U.S.-Egyptian relations should not be defined by the level of American assistance.
The Obama administration said last month it is suspending delivery of Apache helicopters and F-16 fighter jets to Egypt in response to the country's recent political violence.
Washington criticized the Egyptian military for ousting the country's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, in July and replacing him with an interim government.
The criticism and aid suspension angered Egypt's leaders and last month prompted Foreign Minister Fahmy to say U.S.-Egyptian relations were in turmoil. But, speaking alongside Kerry, Fahmy said the top U.S. diplomat had given him "indications" that relations are returning to normal.
Kerry reiterated U.S. calls for Egypt's interim government to hold free and fair elections as part of a promised return to democratic rule next year. He said Washington believes Cairo is implementing a roadmap to achieve that goal.
The secretary of state met with interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour and Defense Minister and military chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi as part of the brief trip to Cairo.
It came one day before ousted president Morsi goes on trial on charges of inciting the killing of anti-Islamist protesters demonstrating outside the presidential palace in December.
Kerry's Egypt stopover was the first of his nine-day diplomatic mission to the Middle East and Europe.
He departed later Sunday for Saudi Arabia, whose rulers have criticized the U.S. refusal to take military action against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, embroiled in a civil war against rebels backed by Riyadh.
Before departing Cairo, Kerry said the United States and its regional partners "share the same goal" of achieving a "transitional government" in Syria, even if they differ on "individual tactics."
Kerry's other stops include Israel and the West Bank, where he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He also is due to visit Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco and Poland.
http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-us-a-partner-of-egypt-aid-cutback-not-punishment/1782492.html
No comments:
Post a Comment