Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 16:15:18 +0100
Egypt's El-Sisi talks parliamentary polls, Syria and Ethiopia's dam
Part three of interview with Saudi newspaper Okaz deals with upcoming polls,
Syria's peace prospects and Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam
Ahram Online, Wednesday 29 Oct 2014
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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi spoke with Saudi newspaper Okaz,
discussing Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections, Ethiopia's Grand
Renaissance Dam and Syria's Bashar Al-Assad.
In the first two sections of the interview, El-Sisi told Okaz that
"international forces" thought they could establish a new regional system to
give them more influence - but failed. He also praised Saudi Arabia and King
Abdullah.
The third part of the extended interview was published on Wednesday.
Parliamentary elections
Okaz asked El-Sisi why he wasn't worried about the upcoming polls bringing
about "choices that can affect the future and heighten confrontations
between the state and parliamentary authorities".
El-Sisi answered that he trusts the Egyptian people and their ability to
choose people who represent them and have the country's interest at heart.
Egypt is currently without a parliament; authorities say the elections will
take place before the end of this year.
The president added that there's a segment of society that doesn't care for
Egypt's interests - but that this segment was rejected by the Egyptian
people in the 25 January 2011 and 30 June 2013 uprisings.
Okaz also asked El-Sisi whether the country is pushing forward in ensuring
that the next parliament has "justice, optimism and builds Egypt on strong
and solid bases" - terms that the president used to describe the two
uprisings.
El-Sisi replied that "the issue is left to the choices of the people ... we
as a state do not interfere in these details, after the constitution has put
everything on its right path."
Syria
On Syria, El-Sisi said Egypt supports the continuity of a strong Syrian
state. Egypt will also stand with the Syrian people for a better future and
the prevalence of their will, he added.
On the future of Bashar Al-Assad as Syria's president, El-Sisi said the
matter is left to the Syrian people, and if people want change, it is better
that it be fulfilled through a balanced political solution.
Such a solution, he said, involves reaching a deal between the Syrian regime
and opposition that will achieve change through the will of the majority of
the people and needs for stability.
Ethiopia's dam
On Ethiopia's ongoing dam project, El-Sisi said that Egypt "never seeks to
harm the interests of a state, and we do not accept to be harmed or our
vital resources affected."
Ethiopia has the right to achieve the development of its people, and Egypt
has the right, as an estuary state, to get its share of the water without a
decrease, El-Sisi said.
Cairo is concerned that the $4.2 billion dam project, which the Ethiopian
government says is now 40 percent complete, could have an adverse effect on
its water supply.
He said Egypt maintains the right for its water supply, especially as it
suffers from water scarcity and a deficit in water resources.
According to El-Sisi, the issue should be resolved through understanding and
finding solutions based on mutual trust.
This is what Egypt is currently doing along with Ethiopia and Sudan, El-Sisi
added, avoiding past mistakes that led to erosion of trust between all
sides.
"I trust there's a solution that can be implemented, and our experts are
searching for it," he concluded.
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi (Photo: Reuters)
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