Egyptian presidential candidate Amr Moussa declared his electoral agenda at symposium at Cairo's Heliopolis Club Sunday, focusing on reorganizing Egypt's governance and developing the Egyptian economy. Moussa said economic reform, development, and democracy would not be achieved except in a country with a well-managed constitution and sound institutions. He said he agrees with the necessity of international watchdogs for elections. Moussa criticized the opacity of the time frame for the end of the transitional period, and the absence of a definite date for presidential elections. The former head of the Arab League discussed his idea of managing Egypt by decentralizing it, which he considered a great part of his electoral agenda. He said centralizing control in Cairo limits citizens interests, pointing to the importance of choosing governors, mayors, and village councils by election. The candidate also suggested that youth should participate in politics through lowering the age for competition to 21 years. He said the Suez Canal is not just a canal, but should be changed into an industrial area to manufacture ships and to be a large commercial region. The former foreign minister of Egypt dismissed rumors that western countries sought to divide Egypt into four states, adding that it was geographically impossible. Moussa said it is not a problem if the US interferes in Egypt's internal affairs because it is strong enough to confront any problem. "Obama left us. Last year he said he wanted to see a Palestinian state next year, but his words were nonsense afterwards," Moussa said. Moussa said that dialogue he would not negotiate with Israel unless it cease building new settlements and Judaizing Jerusalem. Moussa asked to reassert Egypt's leadership role in the region, adding that he would attempt to open dialogue with Iran about Shia and Sunni relations, as well as nuclear and regional security issues, including the situation in Yemen and relations with Syria. Developing tourism, which employs 4 to 5 million Egyptians directly and 10 million Egyptians in related industries, is important, according to Moussa. Moussa said Egypt's high population not an obstacle, but the real obstacle is managing the situation. Moussa said he would attempt to eradicate illiteracy, which affects 30 percent of Egyptians.
