Mubarak: reforms will be economically and politically interlinked

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on the eve of the conference of the ruling National Democratic Party that the coming phase will be witnessing a close cohesion between economic reforms, on the one hand, and the political reforms, on the other.

The Egyptian daily "Mayo", mouthpiece of the ruling National Democratic Party quoted Mubarak as saying that the party's policies in the coming phase "is based on close links between economic reforms on the one hand and the social and political reforms, on the other. The optimum political reforms can not be attained under inappropriate economic conditions." The Egyptian President said that social justice can not be attained without a strong economy that can provide an increasing national income that creates jobs and increases the income of the individual. Economic reforms can not be deepened without political reforms which enhances people's participation."

Replying to a question on foreign intervention attempts and the possibility of benefiting from international reforms initiatives, the Egyptian president said that "reform and modernization needs to make use of other advanced experiences in this field. However, the main condition I cling to is the use of these expertise to support our own inclination which stems from our realization of the structure of our own society and its ability to comprehend reforms."

He added " We can not make the reform in isolation from the world." He stressed the importance of " pushing youths to assume party and government responsibilities in every position." This was in replying to a question on having 60% of the party's members be composed from youths, according to the paper, on top of them is "Jamal Mubarak, 41 year old " son of the President.

He asked other parties to propose their own special programs according to "logic policies and then the ruling party will maintain a national dialogue with it."