Daunting tasks

Dina Ezzat reviews the pressing home and region policy agenda facing President Hosni Mubarak as he begins a fifth term

---

Click to view caption

President Mubarak in parliament on Tuesday

On Tuesday President Hosni Mubarak, the nation's first ever directly elected head of state, was sworn in for a fifth term in office. It was an occasion to celebrate for the president and his advisors. Egypt, they argue, is on the path to democracy -- even though a lot has still to be done.

Meeting election promises, which include an end to emergency law, improved living standards and more employment opportunities, will be no easy task, requiring the concerted efforts of an executive committed to these goals and to the pursuit of further reforms. As is customary the government of Ahmed Nazif tendered its resignation before the swearing in ceremony, only to be retained by the newly-elected president and instructed to continue with its duties until the cabinet reshuffle planned for December, after parliamentary elections. Presidential and NDP sources say the president is already considering nominations for the new cabinet, which is expected to include several key members of his campaign team who worked closely with Gamal Mubarak.

Tomorrow, in a keynote speech at the closing session of the NDP conference, President Mubarak is expected to underline that the next phase will draw on the resources and talents of a younger generation. The speech will also provide details of domestic policy, including measures to better regulate the state-run media, as well as outlining economic reforms and constitutional amendments to further enhance democracy. The president's 'new vision' for domestic reform will also be discussed during a meeting with Nazif's cabinet, to be chaired by Mubarak, next Sunday.

Generating the economic growth and political reforms necessary to meet election pledges will be no easy task, though it pales when compared to the regional challenges facing the president in his new term. A quick glance at the list of Mubarak's visitors over the last few days -- and those expected in the next -- reveals just how many areas of tension the president needs to defuse.

Yesterday President Mubarak received Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, who is seeking Egyptian intervention to halt the deteriorating situation in Gaza. Abbas wants Egypt to pressure Israel into ending its air raids on Gaza, and to persuade Palestinian factions, especially Hamas and Islamic Jihad, to abide by his instructions to ignore Israeli aggression and not escalate the confrontation. Before leaving Cairo, Abbas said "We asked our Egyptian brethren to help us in containing the situation before my talks with the US president in Washington." Abbas's visit to Washington is expected soon. During the visit, Abbas will be asking the US administration to sponsor talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the final status issues.

A senior Egyptian diplomatic source explained "We have already managed to convince Hamas to suspend armed resistance, including the firing of Qassam rockets at Israeli settlements, but we still need to talk to Jihad," adding "and we need to convince Israel, through direct talks and also through the mediation of the Quartet, that it should give the Palestinian leadership a chance to contain the tension."

Well aware that security and diplomatic efforts, however concerted, cannot guarantee an end to the explosive situation in Gaza, Cairo remains determined to work with regional and international parties to contain the conflict. "The situation on the Palestinian front is worrying, but it is not half as worrying as that in Syria," said the source.

During talks with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Cairo on Sunday, President Mubarak received confirmation of what he already knew: when Detlev Mehlis, head of the UN investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Al-Hariri, presents his findings to the UN Security Council in the third week of October, key Syrian officials, including its security chiefs in Lebanon and possibly members of Al-Assad's own family, could be implicated in the murder.

Assad, say sources, told Mubarak he was willing to work out a compromise to head-off the potentially devastating fall-out from the crisis. "The Syrians are aware that they are increasingly isolated. Judging by what they hear from their diplomatic missions in Washington, New York and Paris, they know there is little serious support they can count on should the US canvas for UN Security Council sanctions against Damascus," said one Arab diplomatic source in Cairo.

Following Sunday's meeting Mubarak's spokesman, Suliman Awad, told reporters that "Egypt refuses to see Syria further isolated and believes that the region needs stability and not another centre of tension."

Egyptian officials say the last thing Cairo wants now is to see Syria descend into chaos. "We have enough problems with Iraq, where civil war seems to be round the corner, and with the Palestinian territories where the situation is far from under control," commented one source. He added that despite disagreements with Damascus over policies that "do not necessarily lead to stability" in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories, Cairo was willing to reach out and help.

Egypt was, however, insisting on some conditions, including an end to any Syrian encouragement of bomb blasts in Lebanon, better control of borders with Iraq and more support for the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to reach a deal with Islamic militant resistance groups. Moreover, Cairo requested that Damascus refrain from issuing any provocative statements. The Egyptian position was acceptable to Damascus and Cairo has already started consultations with concerned foreign capitals.

On Tuesday Mubarak called French President Jacques Chirac to stress the need to spare the Syrian regime, arguing that the collapse of yet another Arab regime would only help spread chaos and terrorism in the region. They are arguments that Mubarak will continue to press forward today, during his meetings with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, and Terje Roed-Larson, the UN envoy dealing with the Syrian-Lebanese file.

Cairo is heavily involved coordinating Arab stances vis-à-vis the Syrian crisis. On Tuesday Mubarak held talks with Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi to solicit Tripoli's support for efforts to spare Syria. Yesterday, Mubarak received a senior Saudi envoy, to further coordinate Arab positions with Riyadh -- presently conducting talks with Washington on the same issue.