Gamal Mubarak, the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Assistant Secretary-General, said Egypt's stances are clear and there are no truces or half solutions in issues relating to national security. The Hezbollah case dated back to 2005 before the siege on Gaza. This case was followed up by the security organs till the investigations reached a stage where they had to be disclosed. The NDP Supreme Council of Policies held a meeting yesterday in the presence of Youssef Boutros Ghali, the Minister of Finance. In a press conference after the meeting, Gamal Mubarak said there are radical differences between Egypt and Iran in their visions. The NDP approved a new vision two years ago to turn a new leaf with Iran and seize any opportunity to open dialogue with it to reach an agreement on some controversial issues, especially as Iran opposes some Arab stances, such as the Arab League's decisions. In addition, there are some differences on the Egyptian-Iranian level.
Gamal Mubarak, who was keen to stress that his remarks stemmed from the NDP vision, said any attempt to penetrate the Egyptian national security will fail, adding: "Whoever thinks so is wrong. The majority of the political forces and the Egyptian people have refused such attempts with the exception of a few people, who try to find excuses for them at home or other groups supported by foreign bodies." He denied that Egypt tried to intervene in the Lebanese affairs, saying: "Egypt does not play this game, and the Hezbollah case is not fabricated by Egypt to achieve political gains." He denied that the NDP intervened in any mediation in this regard.
The Ministry of Justice is putting the finishing touches to the personal status draft law, which will, of course, comply with the Islamic sharia (Islamic law), Gamal Mubarak said.
The state budget will include a pay rise through incentives, bonuses, and the new social allowance that has not been determined yet. There is a rise in most appropriations to the social issues, services and subsidy. He denied that laying off labor became a phenomenon. However, he admitted a decline in the number of requests for new employment. The 100 days that elapsed from President Obama's era revealed new horizons in the development of the Egyptian-US relations, he said, stressing that Egypt should be a key player in any success for the US vision towards the Middle East.
For his part, Ghali said he does not oppose the social allowances, adding: "The Finance Minister does not want to disburse the reserve of our children's future today." He added that every billion pounds disbursed for the pay rise could create 100,000 new jobs.
Ghali pointed to a small breakthrough in the effects of the global financial crisis that is expected to vanish late 2009. However, the unemployment rates would not be improved before late 2010. The programs of the Egyptian economic reform will be affected by financial crisis, but they would not be eliminated.
The budget includes a LE20-billion reserve for emergency conditions, Ghali said, adding that reform has been reflected on people. However, Egypt's problems will not end in 5 years.
