US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Tamara Wittes has stressed the importance of free and fair elections in Egypt. “Elections should be free, and Egyptians should participate in political activities peacefully... these rights must be respected,” Wittes told a round table discussion at the US Embassy in Cairo. Wittes continued, “America and the international community are interested in the integrity of these elections”, and noted that “clean elections are one of the key elements of democracy in Egypt and around the world.” She also mentioned that dialogue with the Egyptian government concerning this issue is already underway, based on the mutual respect between the two countries. She continued, “It is important that we see an open electoral process that the Egyptians feel is fair.” Wittes stressed her country's support for civil society organizations in Egypt, considering them key players in assessing the performance of the government. She explained, “We emphasize our support and funding for civil society through a number of means.” “We firmly believe that civil society plays a powerful role in holding the government accountable,” Wittes said, and also mentioned its social role in “addressing sexual harassment.” The American diplomat noted that dialogue with the Egyptian government about democracy is based on three principles: the first is building relationships on shared interests and mutual respect, the second is respect for global values, and the third is strengthening the spirit of cooperation and mutual responsibility. She also commented on the fatal shooting of seven Coptic Christians as they left Christmas mass services last January in the Upper Egyptian village of Naga Hamadi. Wittes stressed that “They [the authorities] must watch over this case closely, and see that justice is done... this is a type of violence we hope to see the end of.” Egyptian human rights activists believe that Barack Obama's administration is indifferent to promote democratic reform in the region--a foreign-policy pillar of the previous George W. Bush administration. They cite Washington's growing reliance on Egypt's mediating role between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as one of the factors impeding a more aggressive US push for democratic reform. They also believe that the current US administration is in favor of stability over reform for fear that any open elections might bring the Islamists into power.
