Analysts welcome US’ demand for “orderly transition” to democratic govt in Egypt
By ANIMonday, January 31, 2011
CAIRO - Analysts have backed a US demand for “orderly transition” and formation of a democratic government in Egypt.
During phone calls to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi King Abdullah, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Britain’s David Cameron, US President Barack Obama said: The U.S. supports an orderly transition to a government that is responsive to the “aspirations of the Egyptian people.”
Politico quoted former U.S. official Michele Dunne, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as saying that this was a good formulation, adding: “As long as it is said in such a way that it does not imply … that it is feasible for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to be in charge during such a transition.”
Such language is “key, because ‘transition’ directly signals that they are looking past Mubarak,” said George Washington University Middle East expert Marc Lynch.
Earlier, although Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said America was looking to a “transition to democracy”, she did not clarify whether Washington indicated a role for Mubarak in implementing democratic reforms.
“We are very clearly asking both in public and private that the Egyptian authorities … start a process of national dialogue that will lead to a transition to such democracy, and what President Mubarak himself said the other day - that they would begin to take concrete steps for democratic and economic reform - we expect to see happen,” Clinton had said.
Meanwhile, Egypt democracy specialist Andrew Albertson said that the US was using strong words to ensure Mubarak’s smooth exit.
“If they push, if they say we want Mubarak gone, then [Saudi] King Abdullah gets upset, and other leaders in the region, questioning why the U.S. is treating an ally that way. They have two audiences:
Mubarak and other Arab leaders and valuable allies, and secondly the Egyptian people. They are trying to navigate between the two. The U.S. should be telling Mubarak and [Egyptian intelligence chief and newly appointed Vice President Omar] Suleiman that they need to talk to the opposition,” he added.
Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough chaired an inter-agency Deputies Committee meeting on the Egypt situation on Sunday, and President Barack Obama was briefed on developments later in the day, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said. (ANI)
