NewsMine — war-on-terror — mideast-misc — egypt — Viewing Item

Mubarak concerned over us push for middle east reform Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/08/wegypt08.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/03/08/ixworld.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/08/wegypt08.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/03/08/ixworld.html Mubarak cornered over US push for Middle East reform By David Blair in Cairo (Filed: 08/03/2004) In the unlikely setting of a rebuilt terminal at Cairo International Airport, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt spoke with furious candour, betraying the pressure that his ally, America, has suddenly put on his regime. "Nobody imagines that we can press a button and freedoms will arrive, otherwise it would lead the country to chaos," he said. "If you opened the door wide open without any controls, it would be anarchy." To his critics, Mr Mubarak, 75, sounds like an old autocrat trying to fend off any suggestion of democratic reform pressed on him by a troublesome ally. But President George W Bush has declared the spread of democracy in the Middle East a vital American interest and called on Egypt to lead the way. Many in his administration believe that Iraq has opened up a historic opportunity to democratise the region. US officials are touring the Arab world, promoting the "Greater Middle East Initiative". No specifics have been disclosed, save that the plan's model is the Helsinki human rights accord of 1975 that gave the West an opening to press the Soviet Union for greater freedom. In the Arab League's palatial Cairo headquarters, delegations from Egypt and its allies are trying to agree a counter-proposal. They hope to find a position that satisfies Mr Bush while leaving them in control of the direction and extent of reform. "It is illogical that declarations are coming from this country or that and we sit by receiving these initiatives. Therefore we have launched our own," Mr Mubarak said during his airport tour. Observers believe that he has no doubt about his predicament. "Suddenly he is losing his grip. His modus operandi is unsustainable," said Hisham Kassem, publisher of the Cairo Times and president of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights. "He's responding. He knows that he is cornered." Egypt is the second largest recipient of American aid in the world, receiving more than £1 billion a year. Mr Mubarak is acutely aware of America's leverage. He has responded with a modest package of liberalising reforms. Some of the emergency regulations under which Egyptians have lived throughout Mr Mubarak's 23-year rule have been abolished. The government has appointed a National Council for Human Rights. Mr Kassem's human rights group has agreed to join the council, but 15 others have refused to take part, saying the new body is an empty gesture. "Our government has no credit on human rights issues or on democratic issues," said Ahmed Seif, leader of the Hisham Mubarak Legal Centre. "We will not join the council because the government only wants to send a message to the outside world: 'Look, we are reforming.' But they don't want to give this council real power inside Egypt." Far from improving, said Mr Seif, Egypt's human rights record is worse than two years ago. But he shares his president's suspicion of US pressure. "When America says 'you must be more democratic', I ask the question, 'What is behind this, what do they really want?' " Mr Kassem believes the trend is clear. "This is an authoritarian regime that is crumbling. What's happening now is irreversible."

elections-2005 sharm-july-2005-blasts 3 arrests in egypt resort bombings { April 25 2006 } Blast in egypt israel border hotel Bomb kills tourists in egyptian market place Bomber in cairo was student acting alone { April 11 2005 } Bombs hit egypt on victory holiday over israel { March 2006 } Brotherhood protests french usage of suez { January 28 2006 } Cairo grappling with bread crisis { February 2008 } Crime in egypt Egypt blast at sanai kills 23 { March 2006 } Egypt mobarak tensions { March 24 2003 } Egypt nuclear { June 24 2002 } Egypt only allows islamist opposition { June 2 2006 } Egypt parliament votes to reduce civil liberties { February 2007 } Egypt rejects prisoner swap { November 27 2003 } Egypt releases muslim brotherhood after market bombing Egypt releases pro israel prisoner { March 19 2003 } Egypt revolt { August 28 2002 } Egyptian blogger jailed for insulting islam Egyptian government talks with muslim brotherhood Egyptian police anti war activists Egyptian police beat pro reform protesters { May 18 2006 } Egyptian police clash with resort bombers { February 5 2005 } Egyptian soldiers slaughtered sudanese refugees { December 30 2005 } Extremism rises among egypts poor bedouin { May 24 2006 } Israel says alqaeda is behind egypt resort attacks Londons muslim brotherhood { February 17 2006 } Market bomber not as disturbed as egypt painted { April 12 2005 } Mideast democracy conference derailed by egypt { November 13 2005 } Mubarak concerned over us push for middle east reform Mubarak egypt regime change { February 10 2003 } Mubarak orders democratic reforms in egypt { February 26 2005 } Muslim headdress restricted in egypt { June 19 2007 } New islamic militants arisen in egyptian peninsula { April 24 2006 } Poor communities of cairo care for themselves { March 1 2007 } Rice pushes egypt reform without mentioning brotherhood Thousands join reform rallies in egypt Two unknown groups claim responsibility for bombing US gives 300m to egypt after strained relations { June 4 2004 } Files Listed: 38

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.