CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak admitted that Egypt is facing a number of domestic difficulties in the speech he gave to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the Free Officers revolution. Mubarak did not specify the type of domestic difficulties Egypt faces, but admitted that they were numerous. However he did add that Egypt is on the right path towards confronting these challenges. "It is true that domestically in Egypt, we are facing numerous difficulties and challenges, he said, "Yet, based on what we have achieved so far, we are confident that we are on the right path, and we know that we are able to continue to grow, develop, advance and modernize our society. Egypt faces a plethora of domestic concerns, ranging from widespread poverty and unemployment to corruption, human rights violations and a lack of democratic reform. Yet Nabil Abdel-Fatah, analyst at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies believes that Mubarak was referring to economic rather than political challenges. "I don't think his speech touched upon democratic reform because the ruling party has a delusional belief that it has already embarked on a process of democratic reform, he told Daily News Egypt. "Their constitutional changes have not affected the distribution of power in Egypt, which lies mostly with the president. It is a big illusion on the part of an authoritarian ruling party that cannot carry out the needed changes. Mubarak said Egypt is confronting these challenges "by continuing our policies of economic and social reform. We strive for this by continuing to build the framework of our democracy, and by responding to new international realties in a changing world that has no room other then for those who grasp opportunities and confront challenges. " Abdel-Fatah said, "Egypt faces many problems, latest of all is the recent credit crisis which has affected much of its revenues in tourism and workers remittances and the Suez Canal. These are the main problems Mubarak was probably referring to in his speech. Unemployment is probably higher than is being mentioned. All this has social implications, and will lead in all probability to an increase in crime. Mubarak also spoke of threats to Egyptian national unity, possibly in allusion to a recent campaign of arrests in Egypt of people purportedly linked with regional Islamic groups. "What has not and will not change is this people's awareness of attempts to undermine their national unity, and of dangers of terrorism and extremism, as well as the crises we face in our region, and their consequences, he said. In 1952, a number of army officers managed to overthrow the reigning King Farouk. Mohamed Naguib was named the first President of the new republic, only to be sidelined by the younger generation of officers headed by Gamal Abdel-Nasser in 1954. Nasser's popularity increased when he nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956. This triggered the Tripartite aggression by Britain, France and Israel against Egypt the same year. The charismatic yet controversial leader was seen as the symbol of the 1952 movement. In the wake of the 1967 defeat against Israel in the Six Day War, he attempted to step down, but met with popular objection. He died in 1970 and was succeeded by Vice-President Mohamed Anwar Al Sadat. Sadat was in power during the 1973 war and was later to sign a peace agreement with Israel in 1979. He was killed by Islamist army officer Khaled El-Eslamboli during the October 6 military parade in 1981. Mubarak, who was also Vice President, took over after Sadat's assassination and has been in power ever since. "The Revolution was a turning point in our modern history that expressed our people's desire for independence, freedom, national sovereignty, and a better life, Mubarak said, "Over the long road of our national struggle the banner of the Revolution was carried by President Gamal Abdel-Nasser and his companions, then it was led by President Anwar Al Sadat, and after them I bear its responsibility and trust.
