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.



A tale of two speeches in the Egyptian capital

CAIRO: It was no surprise that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama both chose Cairo to deliver their vision for the Middle East.
The historic Egyptian capital is home to Al-Azhar mosque and university, Islam's most prestigious seat of learning, lending authority to the words of any visiting leader anxious to influence Arab opinion.
Erdogan was given a hero's welcome by Egyptians waving Turkish flags. His speech was interrupted by cheers in stark contrast to the reception given two years earlier to Obama, who was flanked by tight security and listened to quietly.
But since Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a popular uprising in February after 30 years in power, the choice of venue is even more compelling.
"Obama, no matter how good his intentions, is restrained by certain policies. He can't govern America based on his intentions. There are leaders and lobbies," said Hisham Saleh, in a reference to what Arabs see as Israeli influence on US policy.
"Erdogan's history proves that he is a man of his word," said Saleh, 26, who listened to Erdogan in Cairo's opera house complex on Tuesday evening.
Both leaders' messages were similar – justice for the Palestinians and democracy for oppressed Arabs – but the reception was different.
"Democracy and freedom is as basic a right as bread and water for you, my brothers," Erdogan said. Obama talked of the need for "governments that reflect the will of the people."
But ordinary Egyptians embraced Erdogan in a way they could never welcome a US president, even one like Obama who in June 2009 was still relatively fresh from an election victory and who promised change at home and abroad.
"I wish we could have someone like (Erdogan), an Egyptian, to lead the country, someone who speaks with the same mentality, same power, same confidence ... Obama did not fulfill his promises," said Ahmed Youssef, a 34-year-old engineer.
Disappointment
But Erdogan should perhaps savor his welcome while he still can.
Analysts say Egyptians' growing confidence in Turkey to help unravel decades-old wrangles like the Arab-Israeli conflict over a US superpower could run into the same disappointment.
"Erdogan is the prime minister of Turkey, a regional power not an international one. It is not in its hand to solve our problems. He could only enhance our positions and support us but not more than that," said Emad Gad, a researcher at the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
Erdogan has been lionized by Arabs for taking a stand against Israel. Many Egyptians have been impressed by Turkey's decision to expel the Israeli ambassador after nine Turks were killed last year in an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
Egyptians wanted a similar tough line from their ruling generals after last month's shooting of five Egyptian guards when Israeli forces were chasing cross-border raiders. No such action was taken.
Erdogan referred to "Israel's illegitimate and inhumane policies," a phrase in his speech that was guaranteed to please his audience. Erdogan could never have made such a speech under Mubarak, who pursued peace with the Jewish state.
"I think Egypt as a state is still wary of the Turkish role in the Middle East and the profile Turkey is taking. But obviously the public is enamored with this new path," said Ezzedin Choukri-Fishere, international relations professor at the American University in Cairo.
Yet, some of those who listened to Obama and Erdogan felt the same frustration with both, namely that their hopes and aspirations were pinned on a leader who was not Egyptian.
"What made me sad is that in both visits the Egyptian people were always hopeful of promises and salvation from someone other than the Egyptian president, another leader," said researcher Ayat Hanafy, 22.
"The hails and cheers we heard, I hope one day we can hear them for an Egyptian leader," she said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.