Egypt's governors expected to be reshuffled soon: PM Mahlab

In an interview with Al-Ahram's daily paper, interim PM speaks about the presidential elections, terrorism and foreign affairs

Egypt's interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab announced that there will soon be a reshuffle of the country's governors.
In an interview with Al-Ahram's Arabic newspaper on Friday, Mahlab said that the reshuffle would be "limited" and based on a report from the local development minister concerning the performance of current governors.
Mahlab also stressed his cabinet's neutrality regarding Egypt's upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for 26-27 May.
"We vow to provide neutral and transparent elections," Mahlab said, adding that the "whole world" will be watching.
The Al-Ahram interview also touched on terrorism, relations with the Gaza Strip, Ethiopia's proposed hydroelectric dam on the Nile and relations with Turkey and Qatar.
When asked about plans regarding the recent surge in militant attacks nationwide, Mahlab said that the government was trying to be proactive and didn't need "foreign forces" to help defeat terrorist groups in the Sinai Peninsula, insisting that its own security forces could handle the situation.
Government officials are planning to visit North Sinai, site of most of the peninsula's militant activity, he said, but did not give any more details.
Concerning the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip, Mahlab said that access to the crossing would depend on national security as well as humanitarian concerns.
"Egypt has always been always with the Palestinian cause and will continue to support the Palestinians," he said.
As for Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam, source of a diplomatic standoff between Addis Ababa and Cairo over the latter's fears of reduced access to the Nile's water, Mahlab said that Ethiopia's development was not against Egypt's national security.
He said that "improving relations" with Ethiopia could lead to better results in negotiations, while adding that electricity was as important to Ethiopia as water was to Egypt.
Although talks between Egypt and Ethiopia have stalled in recent months over the dam, officials from both countries have insisted on reopening negotiations.
Lastly, Mahlab told Al-Ahram that both Turkey and Qatar should revise their foreign policies regarding Egypt and not interfere in the country's affairs if they hope to restore diplomatic relations.
The Egyptian government recalled its ambassadors from Turkey and Qatar after both countries voiced their opposition to the Egyptian military's removal of elected president Mohamed Morsi last July, following days of street protests against the Islamist leader's one-year rule.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/100324.aspx