Moussa in Washington addresses Egypt - US relations
Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/27/2000

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, in an address to the US Council on Egyptian - American relations, said America's recognition of Egypt's centrality in Middle East politics and developments lies at the heart of the US-Egypt partnership.

This newly-established body is yet another bridge that stretches all the way from the US and Egypt, he added.

A bridge which is quite overdue, given the longevity and strategic nature of Egyptian-American cooperation, he said in a speech he delivered in Washington last night at a ceremony to inaugurate this new foundation.

Under the title "The Egyptian-American partnership, an investment in the future stability and prosperity of the Middle East," he said : "Thank you for working so hard to shed light on one of the most important partnerships in the Middle East. Through this forum, our friendship, shared values and interests can grow to new heights, thereby unleashing their vast potential."

"The mutual admiration and respect of the American and Egyptian people for each others culture and achievements date back a long time, and forms the backbone of this relationship," he added.

The ceremony was attended by Ibrahim Oweis, the council's chairman, James Symington, Member of Congress, Maamoun Fendi, the Council¹s Executive Director, Robert Pelletreau, the former US Ambassador to Egypt and Thomas Pickering, State Department Under Secretary.

Moussa said there were many misperceptions about the Egyptian-American partnership that he wanted to dispel once and for all.

Firstly, he questioned, is this relationship as some have claimed solely the product of the peace process?

There is no doubt that the successes the two countries have jointly achieved in the peace process are the crown jewels of their cooperation, achieved in the peace process are the crown jewels of their cooperation.

"Yet, failing to view the totality of this relationship in all its dimensions, historical, political, military,security, economic, environmental, and at all its levels, bilateral, regional and global, may result in not so accurate a perception of specific issues," he said.

"The Gulf war, for example, demonstrated the indispensability of the security and military dimensions of the relationship," he added. "Our joint peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Bosnia, our combat of terrorism, our consultations on key regional issues, such as Iraq, Libya and Sudan and our thriving economic interaction are all vital elements in the framework of Egyptian-American cooperation," he said.

Another misperception is that the peace process gave Egypt in Washington leadership position, Moussa argued.

On the contrary, it was Egypt's leadership, along with that of the US, which helped give this process some of the successes it has witnessed today, he said.

This is not only due to our demographic, geopolitical, cultural, or intellectual influence. It is also because of two fundamental facts : one, the vision we hold for a better future for the region, and, secondly, our history is marked by many episodes in which taking a firm stand has made all the difference for the region's future. Moussa cited that a third misperception is that some view this relationship as one sided. "There is no doubt that this is a vital partnership for the US in the Middle East of today and of tomorrow".

"For the last two decades, it has been the driving force historical and cultural legacy has allowed her a special role from the African shores of the Atlantic to the Gulf and to the heart of Africa, an area of great strategic interest to the US," he said.

Moussa appreciated the American assistance to Egypt.

He said "It has greatly benefited our economic reform program and helped give birth to a vigorous private sector. It has also aided the development of a network of vast economic interests between our two peoples." Moussa asserted that the Egyptian-US economic relationship is reciprocal. "It should also be stated that for every dollar of US assistance to Egypt, we import around $ 4 worth of US products. We are among the biggest purchasers of American wheat," he commented.

Moussa referred to Mubarak-Gore partnership program as an institutionalization of the economic cooperation between the two countries, reflecting the maturity of Egypt-US ties and interests.

"It is a relationship that has served both countries well," he said.

Within this context, Moussa told the Council of Egyptian -American relationship that lobbying for an Egyptian-US Free Trade Agreement should be one of the tasks of the nascent council.

On military cooperation, he said that officers on both sides state that our establishments do work better together in a way that reflects increasing understanding and appreciation of the priorities of both military establishments.

Bright star maneuvers is one of the largest military exercises the US has embarked upon with any of her foreign partners, he added.

Moussa wanted to make it clear that the relationship between Washington and Cairo is straight. It is crucial and strategic in its own right and not a hostage to any other relationship, he ascertained.

Finally, the Foreign Minister said that areas of agreement between Cairo and Washington finally exceeds any areas of difference.

"This is a solid partnership that has weathered the test of time. Differences between US on certain issues are to be expected' he explained. But he said also that such differences are normal.

"After all America is a global power with international interests. Egypt, meanwhile, is a regional power whose interests are closely linked to the heart of the Arab and Muslim worlds, the African Continent and the Mediterranean. So, it is only normal that our perspectives on certain issues be different".

To redress such minor gaps of interests, Moussa said he and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright inaugurated a strategic dialogue that makes use of Egypt's solid experience in the Middle East and recognizes America's vision and global leadership.

"Together, we can pave the way for the settlement of many regional issues, a matter that would bring stability and ensure security," he said.

Moussa referred to the necessity that Egypt and US join hand, as partners of peace to navigate the region of the Middle East out of its troubled waters into safer and calmer seas.

On the Middle East peace process, he said that we are at the eleventh hour, and there have never been a greater will to succeed. Optimism - though cautious - is the order of the day.

He mentioned that President Mubarak has arrived in Washington with determination-not to let this opportunity slide by, but to seize the day and push the parties on the three tracks; Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese, to the final solution.

Looking into the future, Moussa said that the Americans and Egyptians can formulate a shared vision for the future of the Middle East, a region free from the ominous shadow of weapons of mass destruction, a region in which the flow of people, goods, capital and ideas is unhindered, and a region integrated to the world economy through the ever-expanding global information network.

Within this context, Moussa proposed holding a conference in Washington next year around the theme of the "Egyptian-American partnership in the first quarter of the 21st century".

He also suggested that the council takes a leading role in organizing it along with major think tanks and universities to address the prospects of this vibrant relationship, especially: in its economic dimension.

Previous Stories:
  Ebeid hails Mubarak's Washington visit as historic   (3/25/2000)
  Interview with senior US officials on regional issues: Part 1, Egypt   (3/25/2000)
  Baz highlights importance of Mubarak's visit to US   (3/23/2000)

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