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Sunday, January 13, 2002
President Hosni Mubarak said Egypt would surmount the hardships caused by the September 11 incidents in the United States through the efforts of citizens and help of friends. In an interview with October magazine, President Mubarak voiced hope that all the wars would come to an end; stability return to the world and the march of peoples towards development is back once again. He expected that the useless controversy about the clash of cultures would be over and that everybody will believe all cultures are equal in dignity. He also expected all malicious voices and pens that seek disfiguring Islam will be silenced and the world will know the truth about Islam as a religion calling for tolerance, peace and cooperation among mankind and renouncing terrorism. Asked about wishes for the New Year, the President said, "I don't waste my time in dreams. I think within the frontiers of what could be possible to achieve and my wishes are realistic so as to be achievable". Asked what could be possible to achieve in the new year with the world in a state of unprecedented tension and the economic crisis driving its claws into each and every country of the world, Mubarak replied that "I believe the tension and wars will be over and there are a lot of international' efforts to work on that, but the world economic crisis might take time but it won't be long". The first impact of this economic crisis had started in Southeastern Asia. We are in one world that is affected wholly of what is going on here or there, and that is why the impact of this crisis extended to all countries, he said. We were affected by the world crisis and the September 11 repercussions, he said, noting there are efforts exerted by brothers and friends to help us overcome them. The President voiced hope that the peoples would focus again on development, expressing belief that the unified European currency will help stabilize the exchange rate. I expect rectification to take place in the march of globalization in a way that no certain countries will prosper at the expense of others, said Mubarak. President Mubarak said I remember that late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was having serious talks with the Palestinians that reached agreement on positive points and then a blast took place in Tel Aviv and he said he knew there were parties on both sides that do not want peace but this incident will not pose as an obstacle before peace. Rabin then said he would continue the peace process...this is courage, stressed the President, adding Israel needs peace and security and the Palestinians also need them, and so are the Arabs and the whole world. Whoever jeopardizes peace and security will be taken as working against the interests of their people in the first place? The Palestinians foot a very expensive bill that is hard to survey but Israel also had losses that could have been avoided for the very beginning, and avoiding them is still possible so far, and this is what I wish for the new year, he added. On his wishes and expectations at home, the president said "this is what we are really preoccupied with... surmounting the current phase through cooperation of the government, the People's Assembly, parties and the people, and that is why I call on citizens, businessmen, the intelligentsia and parties to give a hand in overcoming the hardships that emerged after the September 11 incidents. He noted that the march of development would continue because we don't have any other choice but to wok on augmenting our resources... overpopulation is devouring what development achieves and that is why continuity of major projects is essential so that the people would reap their fruits. Asked about his optimism amidst all this bleak world and regional atmosphere, the President said "I am always optimistic...life is a non-stop battle that needs courage and will, and we have gone through wars and spent many hard times and I have been believing that we always should keep a clear mind and the ability to think quietly and should never listen to the calls of the desperate and pessimistic ones," he said. We have to work on building the future of Egypt in a way that suits its role and prestige. We should work and work and I dare say that the new year will be one of working to improve conditions that there will be no place except for those who work honestly, he added. The President stressed that he always keeps' the low-income brackets as well as youths and their future in mind. Asked on his view over the government's performance, the President replied that it is working within the framework of laid down policies and each minister is doing his best and the task set now is alleviating the unemployment in addition to increasing export, investment, realizing stability in the money market, activating domestic and tourism, developing education as well as rationalizing luxurious expenditure and not purchasing any foreign commodities or products that have a local match. I will strongly punish whoever tries to go roundabout these commitments by the government, stressed Mubarak. The President pointed out that the citizen plays a role in the protection of the Egyptian industry and this is for his own good... encouraging the Egyptian industry would lead to expansion in setting up more plants and improvement of the quality of products and consequently increasing job opportunities. I call on all the citizens to reduce their travels abroad to ease the pressure on foreign currency, said the President, elaborating that the country is in need of the foreign currency for production, development, and modernization of industry and creation of job opportunities. The citizens must feel the responsibility about this country and ask himself what would be the best option: spending currency on traveling abroad or saving it to purchase machines and production appliances? He said. Asked about the strong criticism against the government, the President said that the honest objective criticism is good for but the groundless one is of no use, adding corruption cases published by the newspapers are referred to the investigation bodies. Generally speaking, the government needs time to carry out its assignments. Nothing is achieved in the twinkling of an eye. The government is executing a programme to attract investments and we will see whether it will succeed or not, he said. "The government also has' a programme to increase exports and upgrade the newly-graduated youths' skills and train them to businesses needed by the work market and we are going to hold the government accountable over all the tasks it is entrusted with," he said. "And now we should help the government in its efforts and provide counsel for it and play our role in encouraging small sized projects and protect the national industry, particularly with the beginning of applying the world trade organization and European partnership agreements," he said. The President further noted the government should feel that it is not alone. Asked on the parties role, especially the National Democratic Party (NDP), the President said, "We really need to activate the political action and the role of both the NDP and the opposition parties". There is a plan to upgrade work at the NDP and the coming ' period will witness remarkable activities, especially with youths. I also call on the opposition parties to increase their roles and to put the higher interests of the state above anything else. Asked why Gamal Mubarak would not play a bigger role in the country, Mubarak said Gamal has chosen to work in the public service and in serving society 'and youth. He does not want anything else and thinks of nothing accept that. Asked whether it was time to start recording the events of 6th of October war accurately to be a reference to the historians, the President said this really exists in the armed forces. But some of what has been written on this war was not reliable and accurate and the other needs some correction. Asked why he did not write so far his memories on that war, the President said I had actually started doing this and I am trying to find time to begin recording what took place from the very start beginning with the planning stage, the military and political preparations and the post-war stage. I do not know when I will finish. It all depends on the events that really do not give much time to complete what I have already begun. |
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