Assem El-Kersh reports on an open exchange of views on the political future During a meeting that lasted over two hours on Tuesday with a delegation of influential Egyptian figures, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, chairman of the Higher Council of the Armed Forces (HCAF), and Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Sami Anan stressed that the six-month interim period during which the HCAF manages the affairs of the country will not be extended a single day. They further reaffirmed the HCAF's commitment to the pledges it made in its communiqués. Among the members of the delegation were the Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, the former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El-Baradei, whose photograph seated next to Tantawi appeared in yesterday's newspapers. For their part both Moussa and El-Baradei thought that the presidential elections should be held prior to the parliamentary elections. Moussa cautioned that it would be risky to hold the parliamentary elections first, adding that six months is hardly enough time to produce a parliament sufficiently representative of the aspirations of the Egyptian people. Others agreed there should be enough time to install the proper legal and regulatory framework for political parties to form and build support bases by responding to the people. All participants in Tuesday's meeting agreed that it was essential to end the attrition afflicting the economy and sustain a climate of economic freedom to help it to recover -- stability and the resumption of production were deemed necessary, and it was thought that they require an end to the wave of protests and strikes. Following the meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Defence, the veteran journalist Salama Ahmed Salama told Al-Ahram Weekly that there was a virtual consensus on the need to hold presidential elections first, even if that required a minor amendment to the constitution to enable the new president to be sworn in before the Constitutional Court instead of the People's Assembly. On the question of extending the transitional period, Salama responded that the HCAF was determined to fulfil its duty and hand over power to a civil authority within six months, during which period presidential elections will be held. It was prepared to leave parliamentary elections to a subsequent period, which, according to the legal expert Kamal Abul-Magd is feasible from a legal and constitutional perspective. Salama also confirmed a consensus on the grave state of the economy. He indicated that parties offering assistance or loans are waiting for the situation to stabilise; the HCAF, he added, will comply with the participants' request to issue a communiqué confirming the commitment to free-market economics and reassuring the business community and potential investors that no arbitrary measures would be taken that might put their economic activities at risk. During the meeting, the businessman Naguib Sawiris proposed a committee of prominent and credible politicians and businessmen to contact Western and Gulf countries like France, Britain, the UAE and Kuwait, all of which have expressed the wish to assist Egypt economically and offer credit facilities at this difficult time. But he went on to caution that investors were frightened and that it was necessary to reassure them that Egypt's economic policy would not change and that their investments would be safe. The website of the original Al-Dostour newspaper furnished additional details of the meeting, also attended by former prime minister Kamal El-Ganzouri, Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court Farouk Sultan, Court of Cassation head Serri Siam and deputy chief of the State Council Kamal El-Lamei. The website reported that Tantawi had focussed on three basic areas, devoting particular attention to the current state of the economy. He said that it would take $10 billion to cover government salaries and that it was currently difficult for the police to resume their duties. This situation could not continue, he stressed, reconfirming the army's commitment to meeting the political demands of the coming phase. The website also cited El-Baradei's demand for the dismissal of the Ahmed Shafik government and its replacement by a government free of persons appointed by former president Hosni Mubarak. On the subject of holding presidential elections first, El-Baradei stressed that this would ensure the creation of a genuine constitution commensurate with the aspirations of the Egyptian people. Conversely, holding parliamentary elections first, he cautioned, would only usher in the remnants of the NDP, producing a parliament that could not be relied on to create a proper constitution for the new Egypt. According to sources present at the meeting, El-Baradei suggested extending the transitional period to at least two years to ensure sufficient time for the emergence of political parties with strong popular bases. They added that it was clear that Tantawi and Anan were willing to discuss all ideas openly and frankly, including the proposal voiced by El-Baradei and supported by Moussa to form a presidential council consisting of both civilians and military officials. Nevertheless, Tantawi and Anan did not respond to this proposal. On the other hand, the HCAF chief stressed how important it was for broader sectors of the public to be brought into play so as not to restrict setting the direction to a small group. His remark reflected the council's concern over the ongoing wave of strikes and protests which he fears are shaking the economy and severely jeopardising development. According to a source that was present at the meeting, the anxiety was shared by all. "The participants were in full accord over the need for the situation to calm down because the continuation of protest threatens to paralyse the country," he said. On this issue, Salama advised the HCAF to keep channels of communication open between the army and young people, to which the response was, "We meet with them regularly and listen sympathetically to what they have to say." At one point in the meeting, the HCAF chairman and vice-chairmen stated that the HCAF alone was managing the affairs of the country, without intervention from anyone. The statement was obviously a response to rumours that Mubarak is still running the country or exercising influence from his residence in Sharm El-Sheikh. A military source stated that the Tuesday meeting was an initiative undertaken by the HCAF and a reflection of its desire to remain in touch with Egypt's national leaders. The source went on to state that the HCAF reaffirmed its full commitment to the implementation of the demands of the 25 January Revolution, while bearing in mind that this process will take time and require proper legal frameworks. And while the HCAF is keen on handing over power to a civil government within months, it is also concerned that this transfer should not take place in a manner that might threaten the collapse of the institutions of the state.
