The European Parliament delegation continued its visit to Egypt by meeting yesterday with Alexandria governor in Alexandria and visiting the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Anna Lindh Foundation. The delegation, which also held meetings with civil society organizations and political parties, is set to meet with some Alexandria businessmen to energize economic relations. The delegation chairwoman called for social justice in Egypt and for all Egyptians to profit from economic growth. She also said the emergency law has been used for too long in Egypt. The 11-member EP delegation met two days with al-Wasat [Center] party – which is waiting for a license - and asked it for details about how it qualifies capitalism and social justice, the party's relation with the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) Group and the delayed legal announcement of the party. The party top leader, Abul Ela Madhi, said he supports the idea of encouraging the private sector to develop the national economy, stressing the necessity for a bigger State's role in protecting middle and poor classes. Madhi criticized the role played by the Political Parties' Affairs Committee in restricting the partisan action. He blamed it for delaying the announcement of his party. Tareq el-Malt, a Wasat leader, said only 7% of the party members belong to the MB. He noted there is a big difference between his party and the MB, saying: “They are mixing preaching with political action, while we only practice politics.” The European Parliament members encourage the government to continue the reform process and welcome all decentralization efforts aimed at reinforcing women's role in political institutions, remarked the delegation top official. Political parties can play a key role to help raise people's participation in elections and the independence of the judiciary in Egypt would guarantee a balance between powers, the delegation head told a press conference two days ago. She called for social justice and said they hoped their Egyptian partners would increase overseas investments in the economic sector. The entire Egyptian society should benefit from economic growth, she affirmed, adding that bigger attention should be given to small-and medium-sized businesses. The delegation and the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) considered an end to the Emergency Law and the respect of individuals' rights in any counterterrorism legislation, she added. Some cases necessitate exceptional laws, she said, but this does not mean leaving such laws in force for too long after the cause why they were enacted is over. Emergency Law has been effective in Egypt since 1981, she said. She said some measures could be taken in Europe to restrict personal freedoms when the need arises, adding that sometimes there are unjustified detentions. She then called on the Egyptian Parliament to take its own responsibilities toward individuals' electoral freedoms and to let this be the only guarantee of freedom. Gamila Ismail, wife of former Ghad [Tomorrow] party chairman Ayman Nour, said the delegation had sought but failed to be allowed to visit Nour. The European delegation chief commented by saying the delegation had not been charged by the European Parliament with visiting Nour, so it was not on the visit agenda. Ismail also said that she had met with the European delegation at a Nile Cornish hotel two days ago and that the meeting had been attended by businessman Muhsin Badawi. Nour's wife said the delegation was interested in Nour's case and requested details about his possible release next July and the legality of practicing political action following his release. The delegation also asked about his political plans and projects after his release and whether or not he would need a period of convalescence in or outside Egypt, she added. “They also asked about this November 6 fire at Nour's office, particularly because they have visited it more than once”, she noted. They have an accurate background about the fire, Ismail said, quoting the visiting members as saying they had been told by some governmental bodies that these incidents were a mere split within the party. The Public Prosecution is still looking into the incident and would announce who set fire to Nour's office, Ismail said. Nour is due to leave prison in July, as by then he will have spent three-fourths of his 5-year jail sentence, she affirmed, adding that he might need a long period of time to recover. On its arrival in Brussels, Ismail said, the delegation will prepare a detailed report on its visit to Egypt and would include the issues it has discussed.
