Egypt’s transition phase to end by spring: FM

UNITED NATIONS – Reuters

Egyptian FM Fahmy (L) meets the UN chief Ban at the United Nations. AP photo

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said Sept. 28 the transitional phase of government in Egypt should end “by next spring,” replacing leaders appointed after the army ousted elected president Mohamed Morsi in July.

The Egyptian army ousted Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood leader, on July 3 after protests against his one-year rule. An interim government was appointed and a roadmap for a transition to new elections was announced.

“Work is under way, in line with the roadmap, on several tracks. It has so far succeeded in establishing the principles of justice, freedom and democracy, as a basis for governance,” Fahmy told the U.N. General Assembly.

“This will be followed by parliamentary elections, then presidential elections, so that the transitional phase ends by next spring,” he said. Egypt’s interim government is working on amending a constitution that was drafted under Morsi by an Islamist-dominated assembly.

“We are determined to fully implement the roadmap. This requires us to give the utmost priority to the preservation of security and the enforcement of the law, and to counter any intimidation attempts aiming at hindering our efforts,” Fahmy told the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders.

 Egypt banned Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood, whom the new rulers accuse of committing acts of “terrorism” and inciting violence. Fahmy said no Egyptians will be excluded from the democratic process as long as they are committed to peaceful means.

 “All Egyptians are invited to participate in all phases of the political process, as long as they are committed to the renunciation of violence and terrorism, and of acts of incitement to them,” he said.