US pushes Egypt to democratic reform
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-15 10:17

US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said Thursday he sought to persuade Egypt's leadership to accept international observers to monitor upcoming elections in a visit that reflected the delicacy of U.S. attempts to push democratic reform in its closest Mideast ally.

Skepticism is high among Egyptian opposition groups that a presidential vote in September and parliamentary elections to follow will be fair and transparent, citing past claims of vote fraud and intimidation at the polls that put parliament heavily under the control of the ruling party.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick speaks to reporters at a press conference after meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday July 13, 2005. [AP]

Zoellick, the No. 2 in the State Department, met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and members of his government and the opposition during a two-day visit that he finished Thursday. He said he urged officials to let in observers to ensure a fair vote, a proposal the government has said it is considering.

"It's clear one is in a process of transition here," Zoellick told journalists. "I suggested that by having observers frankly that's the idea of how you make transparency real. ... The best way is to be open in the process."

The upcoming votes are a key test of the U.S. campaign to press for reform in Egypt, where Mubarak's government plays a key role in other issues, including the peace process with Israel and the conflict in Iraq. In a speech in Cairo last month, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Egypt to let in observers, give opposition parties equal time in the media and ensure fairness in the voting.

Mubarak has opened presidential elections to competitors for the first time, after years of being re-elected in referendums in which he was the only candidate. But few believe the election is a real challenge to Mubarak's rule. His government has control of the security forces, which in past votes have been accused of interfering, and dominates media.

Zoellick's remarks suggested the United States had to tread carefully in pushing for change.

"It's very important to get the right balance between encouragement and support from the outside and making sure the roots (of change) are planted in local soil. These are decisions that Egyptians need to make," he said. "You can try to punch people or you can try to explain the logic to people."

"I feel there's a process of change here politically and economically," said Zoellick, who was wrapping up a Mideast tour that took him to Sudan, Jordan and Iraq.

Nagui al-Ghatrifi, deputy head of the opposition al-Ghad party, was among the opposition and ruling party officials who met Zoellick on Wednesday. He said he was "not reassured" that Washington would press Mubarak for change.

"From the picture we have now, it does not look like these elections are going to be fair. They'll be fraudulent," he said. "There are conditions for a fair vote, and the government isn't meeting them."

Close

Space shuttle Discovery launch delayed Blair plans measures to uproot extremism Pakistan train crash carnage kills 128

Today's Top News     Top World News
China to launch manned spacecraft in October         PLA on course to cut 200,000 personnel         Japan approves oil drilling, China protests         China plans to build 10 more nuclear reactors         UK bomb probe focuses on chemist, Briton         Cross-Straits exchanges widen with business	UK bomb probe focuses on chemist, Briton       France celebrates Bastille Day       US military official accuses Russia, China of bullying       Pakistanis hunt for missing relatives after train disaster       Israeli copters pound Gaza after woman's death       South Korea, Japan, U.S. discuss extending talks