The views of the Freedom and Justice Party's (FJP) vice chairman on the United Arab Emirates do not reflect official party position, party chairman Saad El-Katatny said in a statement Monday night. Earlier on Monday, FJP Vice Chairman Essam Al-Erian had criticised the Emirati government during the Arab Affairs Committee meeting at the Shura Council, describing their behaviour towards Egyptian detainees there as "disgraceful," adding that "Egypt's patience has ended." The Egyptian community in the UAE condemned Al-Erian's statements, describing them as "disgraceful and offensive," adding that his opinion does not represent that of the Egyptian people, state-owned Al-Ahram reported. According to the statement, Egypt is currently facing hard times not only on the national level, but also on the international level, adding that such comments only make the situation worse. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Tuesday emphasising that Egypt "cherishes its brotherly relations with the UAE" and that both countries have "historical bonds and shared interests, which can't be impaired by empty statements." The statement added that the ministry is monitoring the current state of the Egyptian detainees in the UAE to make sure that they receive appropriate care and legal assistance. Eleven Egyptians were arrested in the UAE in November 2012, accused of conspiring to incite a Muslim Brotherhood-backed revolt against the Emirati government. The detainees confirmed their affiliation with the Brotherhood, but denied their involvement in any political activity.
