President Mubarak has declared that the State has never refused to enforce the rulings of the Egyptian judiciary since its inception and over the forty past years, both before and after he took office. In a speech delivered yesterday for the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the constitutional jurisprudence in Egypt, Mubarak said: "We are proud of what has been achieved by our constitutional jurisprudence for Egypt and the Egyptians. We are also proud of the great judges and their rulings, as they safeguard citizens' rights and freedoms and reinforce the principles of equality and citizenship. These rulings also reflect the society's concern with its political, economic, social and cultural dimensions." Addressing a group of judges, President Mubarak said the Egyptian constitutional judiciary was born strong and based on a solid basis. He added the Constitution has a separate chapter in which it lays down the constitutional basis of the Supreme Constitutional Court and its competences as an independent judicial body. This chapter has given the Constitutional Court the right to control the constitutionality of laws and regulations, interpret legislative provisions, and have the final say in conflicts over competences. In addition, the chapter specifies the rules for the formation of the Court's jury and the immunities of its judges, he added. The law establishing the Court stipulates that its rulings in constitutional claims and its decisions on interpreting the legislation are binding for legislative, executive and judicial authorities. President Mubarak added: "I know that you will discuss during the next two days the subject of the constitutional guarantees of the main rights and freedoms. In fact, this subject is the cornerstone of any constitutional judiciary. We in Egypt have made much progress in this regard. We have managed to set the main characteristics that should be enjoyed by any democratic system with institutional and legal frameworks ensuring the Supreme Constitutional Court's control over the respect of the Constitution and guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary and the sovereignty of the law." The celebration, which was held in the building of the Supreme Constitutional Court at Maadi, was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, People's Assembly Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour, Shura Council Speaker Safwat al-Sharif, and Justice Minister Chancellor Mamdouh Marie. The meeting was also attended by the heads of the judiciary bodies, senior judges, deans of the faculties of law and professors of law at Egyptian universities. At the beginning of the meeting, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Maher Abdel Wahid, delivered a speech in which he expressed appreciation to President Mubarak for his keenness to participate in the celebration. The judicial system has made a long and arduous journey since the proclamation of the 1923 Constitution. During this journey, the judicial building has completed its structure to be higher day after day. Over these years, the Egyptian constitutional judiciary has witnessed a great transformation thanks to its great rulings, Abdel Wahid added.
