POLITICAL movements in Egypt have condemned the Kuwaiti government for its decision to deport Egyptian expatriates from this oil-rich Gulf country, because they attempted to organise a meeting in support of Mohamed ElBaradei, the ex-chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is unfortunate that their leaders and spokesmen include professors of international law, veteran politicians and human rights activists, who must be fully aware that the deportation of these Egyptians is permissible in Kuwait's law. Regardless of the strong ties between Egypt and Kuwait, the latter has disregarded the nationality of expatriates 'planning to demonstrate against their governments'. Perhaps because of his impressive knowledge of ElBaradei has weighed his words very carefully when commenting on the Kuwaiti decision. He knows that he must respect the right of sovereign states like Kuwait to be responsible for conducting their own affairs, including preserving the peace and preventing anything that might cause a disturbance in society or shake a country's relationship with other countries. In the meantime, leaders of and spokesmen for political movements must be overlooking the fact that Egypt has repeatedly committed itself to international law and sovereignty by granting asylum to many heads of state, kings and political dissidents from different countries. These asylum-seekers have included the late Shah of Iran, the late King of Libya, the last King of Yugoslavia, the King of Albania, late Tunisian President Habib Bou Requeba, the late Imam el-Khomeini, former Syrian President Shoukri el-Quwetelly, Lauran Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and late President of Sudan Gaafar Numeri. After the death of President Gamal Abdel- Nasser, his successor Anwar el Sadat refused to allow political dissidents, ex-heads of state and kings to do anything which could spoil Egypt's relationship with the new governments in their countries. Nor were they allowed to organise demonstrations or take to the streets in Cairo and chant slogans against their governments back home. It was Nasser alone who was eager to export the revolution to Arab, Asian and African countries, providing protection for and financing political dissidents and rebel leaders planning to oust their governments. Kuwait is teeming with expatriates from many world countries. If the Kuwaiti Government tolerated political activities like mass rallies by Egyptian expatriates, others, like pro-Iranian Shi'ites, would have good reason to claim the same right. The Egyptian Government didn't allow Egyptian Shi'ites to organise meetings or mass rallies in support of Iranian President Ahmadinejad ��" or his opponents led by reformist Hussein Mousavi ��" during the presidential elections in Iran in June last year. Cairo considers that this would be an unacceptable intervention in the internal affairs of other states. On the other hand, the Egyptians who were deported from Kuwait must have been unaware that ElBaradei does not seem sincere in his bid to run in the presidential elections in Egypt next year. In his several interviews with the international and local press, the IAEA's ex -chief has denied that the presidency is his ultimate goal since returning to Egypt. He has repeatedly expressed his astonishment that his statements have been misinterpreted. ElBaradei stresses that he had returned to urge the Egyptian people to take to the streets to compel the Government to drastically amend the Constitution. I have real fears that ElBaradei's return to Cairo is temporary: he has set to work to cause chaos before flying back to Vienna. He refuses firmly to reveal his political agenda or presidential programmes. I hope the IAEA's ex-chief won't be angry with me if I confess that his post-retirement undertaking in Egypt fills me with doubt, consolidated by his firm denials that he has a presidential dream. [email protected]
