Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation and Planning, Fayza Aboul Naga, announced that she would not run for upcoming parliamentary elections citing the burden of holding two ministries. "I can not run for elections during this confusing political atmosphere," said Aboul Naga. Aboul Naga holds a cabinet post in the government although she belonged to the former regime, making her a controversial minister post-revolution. The Minister told Youm7 that she is the first to request a fact-finding committee to investigate civil society organizations receiving funds from foreign countries, saying they harm national security. "Foreign aid is called ‘official development aid.' This aid is presented to the government. Countries who present aid secretly have interests behind this aid," said Aboul Naga. Her ministry prepared a report about these organizations, and Aboul Naga presented it to the Minister of Justice. Turning to economic policies, Aboul Naga tied economic growth to international relations. Aboul Naga said political power is derived from economic power. The Turkish government has economic power that enables them to take action against Israel, according to Aboul Naga. "The growth rate decline in 2010 and 2011 to 1.8 percent resulted from sectarian protests, Arab revolutions, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict developing on Egyptian borders, and the challenges that face Nile Basin Countries," said Aboul Naga. The Egyptian government decided stop borrowing from foreign countries if the countries impose conditions to the loan. The government decided that loans would be directed only to projects that can cover loans' interest, said Aboul Naga. Cooperation with the European Union is distinct, said Aboul Naga, because it includes non-refundable grants. The minister pointed to several fields to Egypt to work on, including education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure. Aboul Naga said the most important projects are directed to industrial and technical education as well as development in slums. "Twenty million Euros are allocated to develop slums and another twenty million Euros to purify Manzala Lake, the most polluted lake in Egypt. Both the Ministry of Agriculture and Renewable Power Ministries are cooperating in these projects," she said. Aboul Naga said the second phase of demining would start in coming weeks. The military will carry out this process because they are able to hold these projects. Many other countries are assisting Egypt in the project, particularly the U.S. that provides required equipment.
