Former UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei in an interview with American publication The Daily Beast earlier this week criticized US President Barak Obama for allegedly turning his back “on democratization efforts in the Arab world." ElBaradei pinpointed the Mubarak regime as a necessary target for Obama to change course and push for democratic reform. The potential 2011 Egyptian presidential contender said stability in any country is dependent on a freely elected government rather than foreign pressure. Those who believe that stability comes with repression are really shortsighted and should not be surprised if the Middle East continues to move toward radicalization,” ElBaradei said. “The sooner we put Egypt on the right track the sooner we would be able to have an Egypt that is modern, that is moderate and that is acting as a beacon for freedom and liberty across the Arab world." ElBaradei advocated peaceful means of pressuring reform including election boycotts, protests, and civil disobedience. The former diplomat also said the Egyptian public could potentially resort to violence if the government does not heed opposition reform demands. “When you have half of Caironese in slums, when you don't have clean water, when you don't have a sewer system, when you don't have electricity, and on top of that you live under one of the most repressive regimes right now,” said ElBaradei. “Well, put all that together and it's a ticking bomb. It's not of a question of threat. It is question of looking around at the present environment and making a rational prognosis.” ElBaradei dismissed suggestions that he would run in the upcoming presidential elections because of the lack of guarantees for transparency particularly after the government enacted legislation to remove direct judiciary supervision of the elections. He said his call for a boycott is the most effective way to discredit the ruling regime's legitimacy. “If the Egyptian people unite in the boycott then that will be the end of the ruling regime both locally and internationally,” ElBaradei said. ElBaradei added he believes his international credibility permits him to speak freely in favor of an Egyptian population that, he said, he is obligated to represent. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
