CAIRO: Egypt's presidential hopeful Amr Moussa, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary General of the Arab League, said that if he wins the presidential election, he “pledges to boost the country's stumbling economy and fight corruption and also maintain strong ties with the United States and peace treaty with Israel.” He also said he would also cooperate with the Islamists who currently dominate parliament. Moussa expressed his belief that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) will “transfer power soon” and warned of “disastrous consequences if the transitional period is prolonged.” He said at his campaign headquarters in Giza that “the army will be one of the basic institutions in the country, but it is not going to be given an exceptional authority or independent status. “What matters now is that there is the transfer of power within the next few weeks,” he stressed. In response to a question about his stance towards the peace treaty signed by Egypt with Israel in 1979, he said, “we will respect all treaties, including the treaty between Egypt and Israel and I expect Israel would do the same thing.” Moussa said that the approach of former president Hosni Mubarak in relations with Washington, “is no longer valid” and said he will begin “strategic dialogue” with the United States and emphasized that “there is no interest, for any country, no matter how big or small, to have tense relations with the United States.” For his priorities internally if he wins, he said he aspires to build a “fully democratic” state with broader reforms and promote economic and social development. He stressed the “need to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the separation of powers and independence of the judiciary.” He said that fighting against poverty is one of his priorities as well. Moussa said he had not yet discussed his candidacy for the presidency with the Muslim Brotherhood, but sees “room for cooperation.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/W0cnc Tags: Elections, featured, Israel, Moussa Section: Egypt, Latest News, Palestine
