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Written by Maria
Delivered at the National Press Club, Washington DC, September 1st, 12:00pm
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Maria Dayton and I am representing Voices for a Democratic Egypt, a non profit organization dedicated to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Egypt. Thank you for your attendance.
Voices for a Democratic Egypt supports a strong US Egyptian bilateral relationship built on mutual interests, respect, and reciprocity. While we support that strong strategic relationship, we emphasize that the US Egyptian alliance should not solely be an alliance of governments, but one of the people as well. The support of the legitimate aspirations of the Egyptian people for genuine political reform to the end of a more open and inclusive public space should be a cornerstone of the US Egyptian strategic relationship. Change is being demanded from within Egypt, and the U.S. ought not to stand on the wrong side of history by ignoring or downplaying those demands for the sake of preserving a strategic partnership that hinges narrowly on interests that ignore the will of the Egyptian people for democratic change.
Today we echo our brothers and sisters in Egypt who are calling for constitutional reform to enable more free and fair elections, an end to the emergency law, greater freedom for civil society, free media, and guarantees for an independent judiciary. During his 2005 campaign, President Mubarak himself pledged to undertake reform of many of these problematic areas. And yet, there has been a discernible and documented backsliding on almost all these fronts, culminating in a renewal of Egypt’s notorious emergency law—now in place for 30 years—in May. We urge President Obama to follow up with President Mubarak on the status of President Mubarak’s campaign promises of 2005, and also to assert America’s interests in free and fair elections coming up later this year and in the fall of 2011, where Egypt may witness a leadership transition. Recognized international election observation groups are seeking and should be allowed to fully monitor the elections, as should domestic groups without harassment. Furthermore, a number of steps to ensure that the elections be free, fair, and transparent should be taken, which include: constitutional reform of exclusionary provisions, and a voting system based on national numbers. There are numerous agents of positive change in Egypt today that are good partners to those who understand their struggle.
Alliances with the people of Egypt and their legitimate aspirations for freedom and democracy will contribute to a more stable Egypt and a stronger bilateral relationship in the long-run, and that is what we seek. Thank you.
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Written by Maria
Without a stable and democratic Egypt, the future of a two state solution is in jeopardy
The Egyptian Association for Change - USA and the Coalition of Egyptian Organizations call on President Obama to discuss Egypt’s future with President Mubarak. Mr. Obama’s invitation to the Egyptian President to participate in the Peace talks on September 2, 2010 does not address the severely deteriorating situation in Egypt. Since it cannot be ruled out that this may be the last visit of Mr. Mubarak to Washington, we believe that this visit offers a perfect opportunity for President Obama to address the democracy deficit in Egypt to maintain stability and peace in the Middle East. With President Mubarak’s ailing health and the mounting dissent against his regime, Egypt faces an immediate security challenge ahead of the upcoming elections. If the Egyptian regime does not make the necessary reforms to ensure a credible and competitive election process, it could unleash a tinderbox of unrest in Egypt and the surrounding region, which would further hinder prospects for a two state solution.
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Written by Maria
Statement of Professor Saad Eddin Ibrahim
(Wednesday, September 1, 2010)
I first wish to extend my warm greetings to all my dear friends and colleagues in the Coalition of Egyptian Organizations in North America as well as in the media. I just flew from Cairo to New York last night in preparation for my first class at Drew University this afternoon. I therefore apologize that it is not possible for me to be with you in Washington personally for this press conference. However, I should be arriving in Washington later this evening, and I look forward to meeting and speaking with many of you personally over the next few days, as I am keen to clarify my position on recent events in Egypt, including the misunderstanding over where I stand via-á-vis Gamal Mubarak’s potential candidacy for the office of President.
The first thing I wish to stress is that nothing has changed since I first raised concerns about efforts to pass power to Gamal a decade ago. I remain and will always remain a strong advocate against hereditary succession in any form, and I continue to call for the unequivocal commitment to free, fair and transparent elections in Egypt. I would also like to take the opportunity of President Mubarak’s trip to the US to call upon all candidates for the office of President to reject the current constitutional provisions which effectively block free and fair competition among contenders. While I uphold the right of all Egyptian citizens to run for office, including women and other minorities, I have also made known my own personal preferences in terms of the current and potential candidates for the office of President. I have clearly stated my personal preference for Dr. Muhammad El-Baradei, as I believe he is the person most capable of leading the transition to democracy in Egypt. He is followed in this respect by Dr. Ayman Nour and Dr. Usama al-Ghazali Harb. As you can see, Gamal Mubarak is not even on my own personal list of preferred candidates.
I regret any confusion that led to misperceptions on where I stand in this matter. However, the fact remains that nothing has changed in my position since the year 2000, for which, as you know, I paid the high price of three years in jail. I do hope that everyone will understand the distinction between supporting the right of a candidate to run for office and endorsing that candidate for the office. I also hope that this recent controversy will not distract us from the central issue, which remains the need for genuinely free, fair and transparent elections in Egypt that are monitored in order to ensure the results are accurate. Thank you.
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Voices for a Democratic Egypt (VDE) aims to provide a forum for activism and a strong platform and voice for those striving for democratic transformation in Egypt. Recognizing Egypt’s strategic importance and its key role in setting and influencing trends across the Arab world, VDE believes that supporting a democratic transition in Egypt is not only essential for improving the quality of life for all Egyptians, but is also integral to enhancing the prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East. We feel that the juxtaposition of succession transitions in both Egypt and the U.S. provides a timely basis for our efforts.
From 2004-2005, Egypt witnessed a revival of political activism and engagement that called for much needed political reform. Since 2005, these voices have largely disappeared from the public sphere. Individual voices remain, but they face increasing repression and operate in a stifling political climate. VDE aims to bring together diverse voices in Egypt, the US and elsewhere for more effective advocacy for democratic values and institutions.
VDE, Coalition of Egyptian Organizations Issue Press Release on Egyptian Security's Crackdown on Peaceful Protest on April 6, 2010 and Call on the USG to Speak Out Clearly in Support of Reform in Egypt. Click here to read the full press release in English and Arabic.
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Sep. 05, 2010