DAMIETTA, Egypt: Egyptian presidential candidate Amr Moussa was touring in the Egyptian Delta governorate Damietta and he visited Zurka city, Farskour city and Shoaraa village. “The David Camp peace treaty is no longer valid. It was a framework agreement and it ended. The applied agreement now is the Egyptian-Israeli treaty. However, its security frame must be regarded,” he said. Moussa also opened his electoral headquarters in Damietta. He held an electoral conference in Kafr Battekh City. The residents welcomed Moussa. He started the conference by singing the Egyptian national anthem; the attendees and audience stood for a minute of silence for the martyrs of the Egyptian January 25 Revolution. “The Egyptian problems are known, related to education, medicine, agriculture and environment. These issues must be reconsidered, particularly in Damietta issues,” Moussa said. Moussa is studying the problem of the Agrium Fertilizer Plant and its dangerous effects. The residents of Damietta claimed to destroy what they cal the “death plant.” The residents of Damietta opposed the construction of the Agrium fertilizer plant on the outskirts of the popular tourist destination Ras El-Bar. The proposed site of the factory is right outside the gates of Ras El-Bar, six kilometers from the nearest residential area. The residents said if the popular tourist destination Ras El-Bar is to expand, the factory would be an obstacle in its path. The residents of Damietta are angry about the plant being built so close to their homes and a local movement was organized to lobby for its relocation. Aside from environmental concerns, there is also a concern over the impact on tourism in the area, which is a vital source of revenue. Moussa said the issue demanded steadfast decision by a firm government. He also said the governorate of Damietta needs a hospital and mentioned the problem of unemployment rates. He promised the residents of Dameitta to develop the governorate to be the Egyptian base for manufacturing furniture and for fishing. “Egypt suffered many defects in most fields during the past ten years. The rate of poverty increased and the new government must be formed as fast as possible to fix as much of these problems as possible,” Moussa said. He added Egypt witnessed internal and external retreats, particularly in its Arab and regional rank. He believes the Palestinian crisis is an important issue that needs Egypt's support in order to be solved.
