CAIRO: The United States Embassy in Egypt issued on Tuesday a statement that the United States “deeply values the longstanding partnership with Egypt and strongly supports Egypt's transition towards democracy.” The statement pointed out that the US efforts in the past and present have focused on strengthening that partnership. ”We have seen media reports claiming that the US is trying to undermine Egypt's stability or prevent it from achieving the goals of the revolution. These reports are completely false. The United States shares the Egyptian people's aspirations for a democratic Egypt that is strong, stable and prosperous,” the embassy statement added. It explained that the American non-governmental organizations working in the field of democracy, “have been part of US efforts in supporting democratic transitions in a number of countries around the world.” It stressed that their operations in Egypt have been transparent and “solely intended to assist Egyptian civil society and political parties prepare for Egypt's first genuine democratic elections.” The statement explained that the Egyptian government accredited National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) as witnesses during the People's Assembly elections. Both NGOs are part of the recent battle over funding to NGOs in the country, where at least 43 people, including 19 Americans, have been charged with illegal appropriation of foreign money. The statement came as a response to statements by the Egyptian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Fayza Abul Naga accusing the United States of trying “to hijack the January 25 revolution and manipulate the situation in Egypt in accordance with its interests.” Abul Naga said that the “January 25 revolution was a surprise to the United States, and that it was out of America's control, when the revolution transformed into a massive popular uprising all over Egypt.” She added that then “the United States decided in time to work with all of its possibilities and tools to contain the situation and directing it in the direction to achieve American and Israeli interests.” Her statements come as a row between Cairo and Washington continues to increase as a result of the Egyptian government's charging of NGO workers in the country of “illegal foreign funding” and having barred American citizens from leaving the country. US Senator John McCain is due in Cairo on Monday in an effort to end the ongoing struggle between the two countries. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/uT9KC Tags: Abul Naga, Embassy, featured, NGO, US Section: Egypt, Latest News
