Egypt’s Brotherhood hails ties with US

CAIRO

William Burns

The head of the political arm of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), hailed U.S.-Egyptian ties during talks with the U.S. State Department’s number two, William Burns, in the highest-level contact between Washington and the once-banned group poised to dominate the country’s first parliament chosen after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

FJP head Mohammed Mursi said his party “believes in the importance of U.S.-Egyptian relations,” but stressed that ties between the two nations “must be balanced,” a statement issued after the talks said.
Burns said his visit was aimed at learning the party’s views on different issues, particularly the economy and politics in Egypt and the region. Mursi told Burns that there is a consensus on civic freedoms and rights for the new constitution. Mursi also urged the United States to “reconsider” its policies in the region, favoring people’s choices as reflected by the Arab Spring uprisings instead of dictatorial regimes, because that proved to be “not in its best interest.” Morsi said his party understands the importance of U.S.-Egyptian relations, which he said must be based on “a balance” between the two sides. Burns was expected to meet with the Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzuri yesterday.

Compiled from AFP and AP stories by the Daily News staff.