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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 April 2000 Issue No. 476 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 April 2000 Issue No. 476
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Summit Features Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Free to be friends
I am among those who believe in the importance of maintaining good relations with all the other members of the world community, especially with superpowers if these exist. This does not necessarily have anything to do with their preponderant strength and impact on world affairs; it is also related to questions of economic interests that bind us to them. Such good relations, however, must be what we may term a friendship of the free, in the sense that it allows for the freedom of both parties.
If we look at Egyptian-American relations during the Mubarak era, we will find that they are very powerful. We have derived great economic benefits as the friendship enters new fields. During the president's last visit, cooperation with the US spread to the field of technology and communications. There are still differences between the two countries, of course, and this is nothing to fear or deny. For instance, Egypt is not pleased with US policy in Iraq, Libya and Sudan. We also have our own independent position, in direct conflict with America's, when it comes to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, and generally the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.
Our friendship, furthermore, is an asset to all the Arabs because of the mediating role Egypt can play in any conflict, and its ability to defuse regional tensions. For instance, we are now working hard to convince the US that it is inhuman to prolong the suffering of the Iraqi people.
As long as a "friendship of the free" prevails, therefore, I believe that only good things will come from our relations with the US.
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
