The Egyptian government will bear 20 percent of the cost of developing the Internet, according to the Egyptian Minister of Telecommunications The Egyptian Ministry of Local Development was ignored in the former regime, an official in the ministry today said. About 50 million Egyptians have the right to participate and vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Egyptian Cabinet reported. Youm7 Telecom Egypt will experience changes in the next period and will hire a new executive manager on January 18, said Egyptian Minister of Telecommunication Mohamed Salem. The government will bear 20 percent of the cost of developing Internet services, he continued, adding that non-governmental companies will finance the remaining 80 percent. “The project will cost U.S. 2.4 billion over the next four years and will provide 40,000 job opportunities,” Salem said. “The government will start executing the project during the second quarter of 2012,” Salem continued. “The first phase is scheduled to end in 2015 and the second stage will resume in 2020.” The ministry's role in the elections is to electronically link the governorates and the Supreme Elections Committee, he added. Al-Ahram Labib al-Sebaee was chosen as the first General-Director of the High Council of Journalism during its first meeting. Galal Aref and Salah Montaser were elected to secretariat positions and Salah Issal was elected to the Assistant General-Director post. Deputy Egyptian Prime Minister Ali el-Selmy today demanded that Egyptian press work to develop journalism to best serve democracy and Egyptian society. “The Council should address this issue immediately and it must play a notable role in contending with disparate Egyptian issues,” el-Selmy added. Al-Masry Al-Youm The Information and Decision Support Center has made a number of decisions to prevent fraud in the upcoming elections, reported Chief of the Center Hany Mahmoud. “There are 50 million Egyptians legally allowed to vote,” Mahmoud said. “The elections will include about 30,000 local and international monitors and judges to supervise,” Mahmoud continued. “The government will allow for post votes for Egyptian expatriates.” Al-Akhbar The Local Development Ministry was ignored during the previous regime even though it includes about 70 percent of governmental employees and is responsible for providing about 70 percent of government services to Egyptians, said Mohamed Abdel-Zaher, the director-general of Local Administration. “It is time to pay attention to the ministry and cleanse its administrations of corrupt individuals and policies,” Abdel-Zaher said. He also demanded that authorities amend the laws that were drafted to serve specific people. “The government will remove the buildings on agricultural lands at the owners' expense,” he continued. “Those who commit such violations will be sentenced to five-year prison terms.” Al-Shorouq The Head of the Egyptian Press Syndicate today said that it would not allow any journalists to be prosecuted at a military tribunal. However such a decision is not intended to clash with the ruling military council, he qualified. The Syndicate has the authority to punish its members for professional mistakes, he added. Al-Gomhorreya Egyptian Minister of Agriculture Salah Yousif on Sunday is scheduled to announce the conditions under which land will be distributed to citizens. “The priority will be for Sinai youth and graduates of the faculties of agriculture are also a priority,” the minister said.
