Q: We hope you to remain committed to the protection of the press freedom in spite of all breaches.
President Mubarak: My belief in the press freedom is unshakable and will not be affected by some breaches that run contrary to the ethics of journalism as a profession, press code of ethics and law of Journalists Syndicate. This belief has been affirmed day after day despite a growing incidence of breaches and mistakes. My faith in the freedom of the press was embodied in the protection of the press and rejection of any outside or inside meddling in the work of journalists. All pressmen and writers should be assured that there is no going back to era of confiscations or repression of liberties. There is a law which should be activated, and anyone violating the press code of ethics or threatening the country's safety should be punished. Freedom of expression is guaranteed by laws and the Constitution.

This freedom was created to survive and it is a key right of the Egyptian people and not a gift by the ruler to be offered or withdrawn whenever he likes. I'm not against the freedom of criticism as the objective criticism is a social necessity as it helps decision-makers to get to know the negative aspects in the society. A line should be drawn between objective criticism, that seeks to maintain the interests of the country, and destructive criticism which is meant to undermine the achievements of the society and destroy its values and constants. It is not a criticism, it is an exploitation and misuse for the press freedom in a way that serves other powers aiming to violate security, stability and safety of this society.


Q: But we are in a transition stage and the Egyptian street is capable of the right choice and committing mistakes in such periods is a natural matter.

President Mubarak: Since I assumed power in 1981 I have been keen to maintain the freedom of the press and you remember that the country was facing a difficult stage at that time following the assassination of president Anwar Al-Sadat and the terrorist crimes committed in various areas and governorates. Said crimes which were against the police and expansions of the society and its sons, have been developed to assassination attempts against some ministers and senior officials.

At that time, I had two options; either to draw a specific frame for the freedom of the press that should not be crossed in order to surmount that stage or to have a free press, halting the policy of confiscating newspapers and stressing the right of the press to tell the truth to the people.

I opted for the second choice and trusted patriotism of the press and Egyptian journalists.

Q: Do you still trust performance of the Egyptian press?

President Mubarak: As I told you, sometimes I feel some excesses by some writers or journalists but I rejected attempts to instigate chaos and remained committed to the right of the press to play its role with full freedom, especially that the freedom of expression and of the press have gained more ground than at any time before since I came to office. There is no going back on this freedom.

Q: Some people say that latest excesses especially towards dealing with false rumors may lead to incitement against the press.
President Mubarak: It is not the first time for such excesses to surface. Men of the press should realize that freedom came with responsibility. The freedom of any citizen should end where others' freedoms begin without any transgression. It would be wrong for some to exercise their rights and freedoms without duly heeding their obligations towards the others and the society at large.

Freedom is a responsibility and no society can allow some writers to spread chaos or mistreat the climate of freedom.

Q: Certainly you follow up the Egyptian press, are all articles and news aim at spreading chaos or exceeding the press code of ethics?
President Mubarak: Of course not. The majority of Egyptian writers and media men are committed to the pursuance of the truth in their work and keen on showing the full image of Egypt. Media men should bear the responsibility of purging journalistic work whose target is the stability of the homeland. I'm keen on the press freedom and criticism does not upset me. When I read issues or articles dealing with some social negatives, I ask the concerned authorities to discuss the issue and furnish me with the reply, and when I receive the reply I take the proper decision.

Q: Even if such issues raised by opposition or independent newspapers?

President Mubarak: I do not discriminate between national, party or independent newspapers. They are Egyptians and patriotic I'm keen on following up all these papers and on talking to their chief editors to inquire about any problem or issue. My major concern is Egypt's interest and I'm sure that majority of the Egyptian newspapers work for the interest of the country.

Q: I remember your decision to rescind the controversial law No. 93 of 1995- then dubbed the "law on assassinating the press" - and replacing the legislation with law No. 96 of 1996, which gained vast approval by journalists.

President Mubarak: My major concern is to protect the freedom of the press, as soon as it came to my knowledge that journalists were against that law, I met with the board of the Journalists Syndicate and listened to their demands which were immediately responded to. The same thing happened with the journalists imprisoning law, I sent a message to the Journalists Syndicate and promised to cancel the imprisonment in publishing issues and the government has submitted the bill to the People's Assembly. I issued my directives to listen to demands of journalists.

I was confident that elimination of the imprisonment in publishing issues will lead to more freedom in criticism, but in return there was a hope in more commitment and responsibility. In case of excesses, I hoped the Journalists Syndicate to intervene to protect the profession against any breaches or wrong practices.

Q: But we are worried, at the present time, from attempts of incitement against press, we hope to increase the number of newspapers during your era and not close any one.

President Mubarak: In Egypt there are many newspapers. Some of them issued by virtue of law No. 96 of 1996 which gives to the private press the freedom of publishing. There are more than 20 newspapers published by virtue of this law, the matter which I meant and intended. I'm keen that the press practice shall include all political, cultural and social trends. I had a confidence that the Press Supreme Council and Journalists Syndicate will interfere to strike balance between freedom and responsibility and punish those responsible for breaches.

Q: Do you think that the press has the right to handle some rumors in the Egyptian street?

President Mubarak: No one can confiscate the right of the press to handle any rumor even if the rumor was about the president of the republic, but there is a big difference between authentic reporting concerning a piece of information and fabricating one.
Fabricated rumors aim at destabilizing the country, a matter that would affect the conditions of the stock exchange and banks by causing jitters among investors.

Ignoring facts and persisting in publishing wrong information and sheer lies is a matter not in any way related to the freedom of the press, but just aimed at generating confusion and disturbing public order.

I read articles during the last presidential elections for a number of writers and journalists in which they said that the freedom of the press and media is temporary and related to the presidential elections. Now, two years after the presidential elections, the area of freedom witnesses continuous development. I watch and listen to TV programs in the state-run TV or satellite channels which tackle the governmental policies through severe criticism and I did not interfere to stop any writer or guest because my faith in the press and media freedom is unshakable. I'm always sure that the Egyptian media is able to face and reply to all media campaigns which aim at violating the security, political and economic stability Egypt is witnessing while the whole world suffers from problems and disturbances. I urge all pressmen and writers to bear this responsibility and refrain from busying themselves with petty matters so that the freedom of the press might not reach a dead end.