Egypt on Wednesday said it rejected a United Nations offer to help the country write its new constitution, scheduled to be drafted by a constituent assembly after parliamentary elections end. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Amr Roshdy told reporters the minister instructed the relevant departments to thank the UN and excuse Egypt for not accepting the offer. Egypt has written its constitutions for almost a century and its legal expertise has prompted many newly-independent countries to ask for its assistance in writing their constitutions, Roshdy said. James Rawley, UN Development Program Resident Representative in Egypt, said on Tuesday that the UN would support the country's democratic transformation by reviewing the experiences of other countries in drafting constitutions. The Constitutional Declaration issued in March stipulates that the bicameral elected Parliament will elect a constituent assembly of 100 members to write the new constitution. The full legislature will be instated following the conclusion of Shura Council elections this week. The declaration also states the assembly should write the new constitution within six months and that it should be put to public referendum within 15 days of its completion.
