Europe to Egypt: After Mubarak, don't rush election
MUNICH |
MUNICH (Reuters) - European powers urged Egypt on Saturday to change leaders rapidly but take its time holding elections, saying traditions of tolerance and fairness had to be built to make democracy work.
And the European Union's foreign policy chief said the turmoil in the North African country, a force in Middle East diplomacy, showed it was "hugely important" that Israelis and Palestinians made progress in peace efforts.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and European Council President Herman van Rompuy reiterated demands for a rapid "transition" in Egypt -- a phrase that has become a diplomatic codeword for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak after 30 years of Western backing.
But they said caution would be needed in the aftermath.
"I don't believe that we solve the world's problems by flicking a switch and holding an election ... Egypt is a classic case in point," Cameron told a security conference in Munich.
"I think a very quick election at the start of a process of democratisation would be wrong," Merkel told the same meeting, citing her own experiences as an East German pro-democracy activist at the time of the 1989 collapse of the Berlin Wall.
"If there is an election first, new structures (of political dialogue and decision-making) don't have a chance to develop."
Mubarak, who has pledged to step down in September, when a presidential election is scheduled, said on Thursday he believed Egypt would descend into chaos if he were to give in almost two weeks of demands by an unprecedented popular revolt that he quit immediately.
He has fashioned himself as the crucial rampart against Islamist militancy in Egypt and the indispensable player in maintaining a peace treaty Egypt signed with Israel in 1979.
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As for the Street reaction and ElBaradei, it is irrelevant. The Media get their declarations from the loudest yellers and ectremists, ElBaradei knows very well that his wish to become President has zero chances if he is not able to ride in on the crest of the protests.
So whatever is proposed if notradial, they will oppose it.
Obviously, nothing cn be done without the militay, which even if basically loyal to Mubarak has the support of the population, understands that his days are ending and wish his exit in a honorable manner.
AND A FINAL THOUGH!! Why a regime like China, much worse than MUBARAKS,
which damages world commerce basing on maintaining its population under an iron fist and working for Haiti level salaries, is not condemned by USA and EU, hit bt hy duties and if they react illegally,
confiscate the sale of the bons hold by China, for compensation of the damage inlicted to them (US and Europe)?? If China looses their trade balance supeavit, they are not needed to buy further foreign debt!!
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