AFTER a long and heated discussion, President Hosni Mubarak has time and again intervened for the sake of ordinary working people and ordered the Minister of Finance to apply the new property tax gradually. Before this order, Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali had promoted the controversial legislation with an aggressive and arrogant rhetoric. But, after Mubarak's orders, Ghali has begun to make goodwill gestures to defuse tensions between his Ministry and Egyptians. Ghali has said that the new tax will be implemented in stages, in the hope that it will not be a huge financial burden on real estate owners. It is lamentable that the President has to occasionally interfere in order to correct a mistake that has been made by a Cabinet minister, Governor, or even board chairman of a Government run-company. Much of the time this is because they are out of touch with ordinary people's living conditions and need to be brought back to the right path. Egyptians hoped and prayed that the Government would re-consider this controversial law because if imposed, it would add an extra financial burden on them. After Mubarak's statements, however, it is understood that the law would exempt lowmiddle income citizens from paying the new tax and would take from the rich to give to the poor. Advice to Tehran rulers Diplomatic ties between Egypt and Iran were severed in 1980. Since then, the two countries have had only 'interest sections' in each others' capitals. Recently, Egypt has become increasingly concerned by Iran's growing influence in the Gaza Strip and the Gulf region. If Iranian officials listen carefully to Mubarak's message and act in good faith to improve ties with Egypt, Cairo would take similar steps towards improving its relations with Tehran. Christian-Muslim co-existence Egypt's Coptic Christians community and the Muslim majority turn to each other for all their social needs. They are 'one' and this is why they feel secure in their country. Many still recall fondly memories of their childhood friends. They live, work and eat together and mingle with each other because their lives are all centred around their country. They are part of each other's lives and this is why they will live side-by-side in peace in all areas of society, right from economic opportunity to political representation. The Christian population in Egypt, with an estimated population of eight million, is the largest Christian community in the Middle East. More than this, Islam and Christianity promote the concept of forgiveness and denounce violence and aggression, and emphasise the need to solve any misconceptions or problems between followers of both faiths. Therefore, both sides are partners in the same country. They should always communicate in order to live peacefully together. Ismail is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Al- Gomhuria newspaper, a sister publication of The Egyptian Gazette.
