25 - 31 October 2001
Issue No.557
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 25 - 31 October 2001 Issue No.557 |
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Alex to Durban
EGYPT and South Africa signed several cooperation agreements during the fifth session of the Joint Bilateral Commission in Cairo this week, reports Soha Abdelaty. The two-day meetings that began on Monday brought together officials and businessmen from both countries and were presided over by Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and his South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma.The agreements covered the areas of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition, as well as sports and youth cooperation. There was also a twinship agreement between the cities of Alexandria and Durban. Among the issues discussed during this week's meetings were terrorism, the Middle East peace process and conflicts in African nations like Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ahead of the conference, Maher singled out two subjects of discussion which he considers the most important at this juncture. Maher stressed the importance of the new African Initiative, which will work for the development of Africa and cooperation between Africa and the international community. He also focused on the birth of the African Union, which replaces the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
"The new Union is the legitimate son of the Organisation of African Unity [and] we pledge to work for making it a viable and effective instrument," Maher said.
Playing war
THE BIANNUAL Bright Star war games, which brought together 10 nations in a show of military force, reached their climax on Tuesday with a simulated invasion on a stretch of the Mediterranean coast some 25 miles west of Alexandria, reports Amira Ibrahim.
The scenario of the joint exercise posits a war between two neighbouring states, represented by the "green" and "orange" teams. Orange forces infiltrate some 70-80 kilometres into the Green state and Green forces launch a counter- assault to force the invaders out. After a mock air battle between an American- made F-16 jet fighter and two French- made Mirage 2000 warplanes, the landing began and lasted for two hours. Troops were dropped from planes and helicopters and others were brought to shore by surface craft. They advanced rapidly to smash through the "enemy's" defence lines.
Egypt's Defence Minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Magdi Hatata and US Central Command Chief Lt.-Gen. Michael Delong watched the landing from the beach, along with Kuwaiti Chief-of- Staff Lt.-Gen. Mohamed Ali Al- Mo'men and Jordanian Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Youssef Al-Milkawi.
A tradition since 1981, Egypt contributed the largest contingent of troops -- 43,000 men -- to the Bright Star manoeuvres this year. The US came in second, contributing 23,000. Also joining the drills this year were Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait and Spain.
Word on the street
SAMI Abdel-Aziz, a mass communications professor at Cairo University, has conducted the first survey on the reaction of Egyptians to the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington, reports Sahar El-Bahr. A group of field researchers polled some 500 people, 60 per cent male and 40 per cent female, ranging in age, social class and education.
Participants were asked a basic question to start off: How did you feel after seeing the attacks on television? Forty- nine per cent said they were shocked, 32 per cent said they sympathised with the victims and 21 per cent said they were worried about the future.
Asked about who they thought was behind the attacks, only 10 per cent said they thought Osama Bin Laden had masterminded the attacks. Twenty-five per cent were convinced that Jewish organisations were responsible and 22 per cent said that militant American groups in the United States were the likely culprits. Another 20 per cent believe that the attacks were orchestrated by various organisations from different countries brought together by hostility towards America.
The poll was conducted before the US and Britain began their military strikes against Afghanistan on 7 October. An overwhelming majority of participants -- 96 per cent -- categorically rejected the idea of forming an international military coalition against Afghanistan. Sixty per cent said they could not condone Muslims killing Muslims. Twenty per cent said they rejected the idea because of the lack of conclusive evidence against Bin Laden. Ten per cent said they sympathise with the Afghan people, saying that ordinary Afghans should not suffer for the sins of others.
As for solutions, 40 per cent believe that an international dialogue on combating terrorism should be held under the auspices of the United Nations. Thirty per cent assert that the United States must change its foreign policy in the Middle East. Twenty per cent pointed out that the problems of poverty and injustice throughout the world must be addressed.
Abdel-Aziz said the survey showed that in general, Egyptians are not against the American people, but are infuriated by the "unbalanced and unfair" aspects of American policy. He said he was surprised by the high level of political awareness shown by many Egyptians. "Even those with limited education showed an awareness of international issues," Abdel-Aziz said, adding that a second poll is expected in the near future.
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