Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Turmoil on the Nile: Egypt Mubarak Vice promises reforms

The dialogue between the Egyptian regime and the opposition is difficult, but at least he is taking off: with concessions to the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak still be prevented - but just to ask the demonstrators. Cairo - At the end of the hall hangs a huge picture of President Hosni Mubarak from the time when he was the proud leader of his country.

Now being negotiated under his eyes on a new Egypt. When it comes to the opposition, Mubarak will not say in the future. For the first time since the start of the uprising in Egypt, have government officials and leaders of various opposition groups seated at a table. Even the Muslim Brotherhood, are officially banned, have been invited to the meeting with Vice-President, Omar Suleiman.


But government opponents believe the gesture is not the government. Thousands also demonstrated on day 13 of the protests back in the Tahrir Square in Cairo, called for the resignation of the hated head of state. The so-called Council of Wise Men, which consists of several influential Egyptian figures, but had warned against allowing the power vacuum will be even greater.

Sun also gave the Muslim Brotherhood in its opposition to talks. The first meeting showed that the regime now seems the rage of the road seriously. With the concessions the government is trying to prevent the overthrow Mubarak - after talking with the opposition Suleiman state media announced on several points of rapprochement.

- Both sides agreed to set up a committee to draft changes to the constitution until March. - The government promised that it will guarantee freedom of the press, do not interfere with wireless and Internet services and will want to release opposition figures who were arrested for their protests.

Also promised the regime, people do not pursue because of their participation in the demonstrations. And: It should be set up offices, where citizens can complain about political arrests. - Further, the Government announced that it would appoint a judicial body with the suppression and punishment of corruption.

- According to state television, could soon fall in force since 1981, the state of emergency. But this must allow the security situation. The scheme has enabled the political leadership of the country so far to stifle the opposition. Despite these advances in the opposition were not particularly pleased with the talks.

For an explanation of the government after the meeting indicated that President Mubarak should continue to remain in office to implement the reforms - but the immediate resignation of Mubarak, the main demand of the people who go for days, hundreds of thousands on the streets. However, also penetrates the internationally respected Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei on getting new choices in a year.

A one-year transitional period with a "transitional government of national unity was necessary to ensure free and fair elections, he told the U.S. television channel CNN. Allowing the current regime to supervise elections in the coming months would lead to a "fake democracy". A representative of an opposition group who wished to remain anonymous, said that Suleiman had refused to take power from Mubarak.

"We have asked him that the President of the Vice President in accordance with Article 139 of the Constitution, the power transfer," the opposition. With Suleiman at the table according to the news agency Mena except the Muslim Brotherhood were also representatives of the liberal Wafd Party, the leftist party Tagammu and members of a group who had used the demonstrators.

A representative ElBaradei was also included. ElBaradei himself told the U.S. channel NBC, he was not invited, and keep the discussions also for non-transparent. A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, said the meeting had shown good will, but provided no substantive progress. Who could take over within the fragmented opposition, the leadership remained open after the first meeting with Suleiman.

After the talks, the relevant question is not answered: What role should Mubarak play in the months leading up to the presidential election? Unlike the demonstrators want him in office left the political leadership and only transfer some powers to Suleiman. So far it looks as if this was a compromise that is coordinated with the army leadership.

How much Mubarak has to say is hard to see. After all, has already replaced the head of his ruling party NDP - his own post as chairman of the NDP, however, Mubarak maintained. The United States and Europe to press for an interim solution in which Mubarak is not immediately forced to resign.

, Quoting the New York Times "U.S. government sources, according to the 82-year-old Mubarak - could lead to a longer medical examination to Germany and thus would get a retirement of dignity - as in the past. The Foreign Office said to the reports, this question can not imagine. MPs of the CDU and FDP could imagine such a variant to solve the crisis.

The security officer of the FDP parliamentary group, Elke Hoff told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that she would welcome an early exit Mubarak to Germany if it would help to stabilize the situation. "This is not about political asylum," she said. Similarly, argues the deputy chairman of the CDU parliamentary group, Andreas Schockenhoff (CDU).

From the perspective of the conductor of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, such plans are "nothing but a rumor," which also distracted from the real issues. The conference was Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (FDP) warned of a patronizing attitude of the Egyptian people: "We do not decide who the opinion leaders in Egypt." In Egypt, the government tried on Sunday to push back the first day of the third week of protests, people in everyday life.

Thus around 340 banks opened in the country for the first time since their days back switch. The service times were limited to a few hours, there were long queues at the banks. The government has to lift a ceiling of 50,000 Egyptian pounds, the equivalent of about 6300 €. The managing director of German-Arab Chamber of Commerce in Cairo, Rainer Herret said the many companies, production would resume.

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