Mubarak cancels imprisonment penalty in publication issues, rejects western reform initiatives
Egypt, Politics, 2/24/2004

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday criticized the American and European initiatives for reforms in the Middle East considering that they seek "to impose certain types of reforms within context of plans, frames and initiatives based on the assumption that this region has become a danger to other peoples."

In a speech addressed to the fourth general conference for journalists which opened its works yesterday in Cairo and lasts for three days, Mubarak stressed his determination to continue "self" plans of reforms. He indicated that there are "continued attempts by certain foreign forces to impose certain types of reforms in the course of frames, plans and initiatives base, first of all, on the allegation that the absence or slowness of reform in the Middle east region made of it a danger against other peoples and societies."

He stressed in his speech which was read on his behalf by the minister of information Safwat al-Sharif that the "attempt to impose a common type for reform on all Arab states, that does not take into account each society and its ability to comprehend these reforms will only bring in negative results," noting that his country started a reform operation since the beginning of the 1990s.

Mubarak implicitly criticized the ignorance of the American and western initiatives for the Arab- Israeli conflict, stressing that the "feeling of frustration and depression resulting from not settling this conflict are the one which violated its own frame, because forces of extremism damage certain societies." He stressed the "self reform plans" will continued under "cooperation with the outer world."

Mubarak, on the other hand announced before the conference that he had decided to abrogate the imprisonment penalty in publication issues. Chairman of the Egyptian Journalists Union Jalal Aref quoted Mubarak as saying in the inauguration of the conference "I want to convey to you that President Hosni Mubarak told me hours before that the imprisonment penalty in publication issues is cancelled." He added "this decision will not be limited to journalists, rather will include also citizens who express their view in articles published in the press. Neither a journalist nor a citizen will be jailed after today because of a published opinion." He continued "within few days special necessary legal measures to implement this decision immediately will be published."

On the other hand, an Egyptian official source in Cairo announced yesterday that Mubarak will pay today a visit to Saudi Arabia where he will hold talks with the Saudi King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and the crown prince Abdullah on the developments of the Palestinian and Iraqi files.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt call on Arafat to reform Fatah, change leaders of Palestinian security department   (2/5/2004)
  Mubarak discuss views on host of issues; reform takes priority   (1/21/2004)
  Butrous Ghali, a chairman for Egyptian human rights council   (1/20/2004)

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