Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



US ambassador presents credentials to Mubarak
Published in Daily News Egypt on 16 - 06 - 2008

CAIRO: The new US ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey presented her credentials to President Hosni Mubarak at the Presidential Palace Monday.
Scobey was confirmed as the new ambassador in a Senate hearing on March 14, replacing predecessor Francis J. Ricciardone, who had been criticized by rights groups in Egypt for what they perceived as his overtly positive comments on the government.
The appointment comes at a critical point in bilateral relations. Despite being staunch allies, the two countries have seen a cooling in their relationship recently due to US criticism of the pace of political reform and Egypt's patchy human rights record.
Scobey is the first female US ambassador to Egypt. She previously served as the ambassador to Syria from 2003 to 2005 and followed this by a stint as a political advisor at the US embassy in Baghdad. Last year she was appointed as a senior advisor to the Secretary of State.
At her senate hearing, Scobey vowed to push the advancement of civil and political liberties in Egypt and advocate the release of jailed opposition leader and former Presidential candidate Ayman Nour.
Scobey also said at the hearing that there was no conflict between lobbying Egypt for reforms while seeking its support in the wider issues of the region.
She added that she would "give the greatest attention to getting our message out to the widest possible Egyptian audience.
A diplomatic source who spoke on condition of anonymity told Daily News Egypt at the time that Scobey's aims do not "matter.
"She said she will do everything in her power and good luck to her. As long as there is no talk of pressure, because nobody pressures Egypt, the source added.
Human Rights groups have taken Scobey's predecessor Ricciardone to task in the past over positive statements he has made about the Egyptian administration.
Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Hossam Bahgat previously told Daily News Egypt that the incumbent ambassador "consistently heaps praise on the Egyptian government to the extent that he sounds more like an Egyptian government official than an American one. This has damaged US credibility.
Local press had reported that the US administration had sought to terminate Ricciardione's tenure earlier than scheduled due to "its dissatisfaction with Ricciardone's polices in Egypt, and mainly owing to the occasional conflict between his statements and the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's that are critical of Egypt.
This was refuted by the US embassy in Cairo, which informed Daily News Egypt that Ricciardone's term had come to an end and a new ambassador was due to replace him.
Scobey becomes the 42nd ambassador to represent the US in Egypt since 1849. She is considered an expert on the Middle East and speaks Arabic.


Clic here to read the story from its source.