Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Mohamed Abdel Hakam said Egyptian expatriates will not be allowed to vote abroad in upcoming elections. "They will have to fly back home to cast their ballots," he said. At a meeting with the Egyptian community in the United Arab Emirates, Abdel Hakam criticized certain satellite channels for attacking Egypt without justification. "They should be ashamed of themselves," he said. Abdel Hakam also said that protecting Egyptians living abroad is a Foreign Ministry priority. "We have succeeded in resolving many of the problems they face," he said. "Only we don't like to brag about it." The assistant minister expected parliament to approve the ministry-proposed "Egyptian Expatriates Fund," aimed at providing financial assistance to Egyptian expatriates in need of legal or other forms of assistance. "Unlike other funds that collect fees from its members, this fund absolves Egyptian expats of all expenses," he explained. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
