President Mubarak's address to the People's Assembly, the full text
Egypt, Politics, 10/6/1999

Here is the full text of President Mubarak's Address to the People's Assembly yesterday on the occasion of taking the oath for his fourth term:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Members of the People's Assembly,
Words are short of expressing the surge of feelings in my heart, in appreciation of this great people who gave me their invaluable confidence and in gratitude of the great love and appreciation they extended to me thus reactivating my readiness to proceed with my responsibility in a way that satisfies Allah, the motherland and the conscience. Thanks to every citizen who casts his vote in the hope of a better future. It is my pledge to do my utmost to realize our great expectations and ambitious national targets.

I thank others who took part in the referendum for going to the ballot boxes, fulfilling their electoral duty and exercising their right to democratic choice. It is also my pledge to do my best to maintain the society's right of a free choice and acceptance of others' viewpoint. It is my firm belief that difference of viewpoints should be no reason for discord.

Thanks to the masses that set on in love and allegiance to confirm their right of participation and keenness on performing their national duty and supporting an ambitious program whose first and ultimate aim is to incorporate Egypt into the advanced world; crossing, with the beginning of the Third Millennium, to a new phase where the march of revival can be pursued for the common prosperity of every Egyptian man and woman.

Thanks to every good citizen who contributes his share of responsibility and trust. I promise all to be the president for all Egyptians, duly observe the interests of the motherland and seek help, advice and counsel as Egypt is the homeland of all citizens, and under the umbrella of Egyptian patriotism, there is no distinction between a supporter and an opposer regardless of differences in opinions on means of achieving the national interest, they are Egyptians. That is the crux of the democratic choice that we insist on respecting and deepening.

Your venerable assembly had had the credit of nominating me for a new term of office in order to pursue together the march of revival. This will remain the object of my pride;being an assignment by the representatives of the people that I could but accept. I thank your venerable assembly for this valuable trust and this national consensus by the majority of the Egyptian people.

I accepted the nomination asking God Almighty to help me shoulder this grave responsibility. I was confident of the support of the Egyptian people especially as we have been together through the hard course of reform with all the problems and obstacles involved. Working together, with honest performance, determination and concerted efforts, we could move through the bottlenecks of tough experiences that put to the test the will of the nation, to better and more relaxed conditions.

We now stand on the threshold of a new stage with open vistas for a better future for all factions of the Egyptian society, allowing maximum, possible and real participation. This is the duty of the state institutions, community organizations including federations, societies, trade unions, syndicates and parties. This is a stage where revival proceeds forward to cover all walks of Egyptian life.

In memory of the glorious October victory, I feel more hopeful and optimistic to start on this occasion a new term of office where the national entity will be reinforced on valid and firm basis. So is my feeling as I take the constitutional oath before your venerable assembly on this memorable occasion. This is a chance to renew our self- confidence and express our will and ability to realize the goals of the national struggle regardless of any obstacles. Moreover, it unveils the real extent of this great people's potential. This people could earlier accomplish a magnificent military feat that overturned balances, concepts and attitudes. With its great impact overstepping the limits of the present to the depth of the future, this victory has helped build up, on the ruins of the Middle East wars, a comprehensive and just peace for all the peoples of the region.

The October victory has taught us that realizing major goals requires a true faith, courageous decision-making, thorough planning and prompt initiative. Besides, it also needs dedication to duty, respect for scientific methodology and courageous acceptance of grave sacrifices for the sake of Allah and homeland.

This is the system of great values that enabled us to achieve October victory and safely pass through difficult conditions you all know. We now stand at the threshold of a strong-based, promising future built with our sweat, blood and sustained efforts over many years, leading a comprehensive reform process that has prepared Egypt to face the challenges of a new century.
Greetings to the war decision-maker and peacemaker, the late President Muhammad Anwar as-Sadat who devoted himself, up to the last minute of his eventful life, in service of his country and people, giving the most magnificent example of courage, daring and the ability to lead the march and respond to the call of the motherland whatever it may cost him.
Greetings to the Armed Forces of Egypt and their valiant men who restored their nation's land and dignity, instilled into its pure soil new values to strengthen the power of national struggle and helped the great people of Egypt to achieve their major objectives, cutting short its path to progress. Greetings to our faithful martyrs who shed their pure blood for the sake of the homeland. This led to the rise of new, more highly inspired generations, that will surely be more capable of shouldering the burden of future, more respondent with the time and more daring to break into the remaining problems.


Brothers and Sisters,


We have started a new stage of national action whose objectives are governed by a comprehensive program. The guidelines and salient features of this program were represented in a number of meetings and conferences prior to the referendum day. By so doing, we meant that the referendum should not be one on the person of the president himself but rather on his program for the coming period. Most characteristic of such period is that it starts with a new millennium, where scientific achievements and technological applications compete in an unprecedented way.

In this age, information technology plays an increasingly growing role with a decisive effect on all fields of human activities. Today, the world witnesses new phenomena and orientations urgently imposed themselves on all countries and people by huge world economic blocs and newly created international institutions that perform cross-border roles within a global economy where boundaries are falling apart, markets growing more unified and competition for markets more acute.

In this program, the proper starting point is that we do not have the luxury of choosing isolation from that huge development imposing itself on the path of human progress. This is because we do not accept to have our interests marginalized or our future opportunities wasted, especially in view of our numerous advantages that qualify us to be part of such progress. We also have diversified and highly qualified manpower, a great time-honored people. Above all,we have an emerging economy, where all indicators prove an increasing capability to achieve comprehensive development for the common benefit of all categories of the community. Moreover, Egyptian capabilities and skills are being upgraded.

Today, it may not be opportune to talk, in more detail, about this program that forms a cornerstone of a future vision for Egypt's options at the threshold of the Third Millennium. This will be done, God willing, in our next meeting with the opening of the new session of our venerable assembly. However, I can highlight a number of important facts:


First:

The program that we are talking about and working on is underpinned by persevering effort exerted since we were assigned responsibility by the people. The cornerstone of the progam was to reinforce role of institutions in the Egyptian society, entrench the concept of institutionalized state into our political, administrative and social system. It is the concept that guarantees maximum collective participation. It also ensures that objectivity should be the prevailing consideration in policy and decision making. Besides, it is the means that provides stability for public work.

This program also combines the efforts of both the state and different community institutions together with the role of the individual citizens. Unless concerted efforts by basic partners of development are integrated into one plan that coordinates the three roles, it will be difficult to expect complete success. It is the state's duty to provide suitable environment, set the proper policies that ensure that the right priorities are attained and protect, through the force of law, the balance of interests among all categories of the society. It should also guarantee that the fruits of development are made available to to the interest of all citizens. The state should be always ready to intervene at the right time to set the pace of social mobility in order to preserve social safety.

The duty of the community organizations represented in parties, syndicates trade-unions and non-governmental organizations, is to help expand the right of participation, place a principal part in constantly upgrading citizens' skills, maintain its national entity and seek to achieve harmony between its goals and the requirements of public interest, thus avoiding being a tool in the hand of external powers and groups. These organizations should exercise their democratic and voluntary role without getting involved into a conflict designed to discriminate between citizens' interests or give prevalence to the interests of a specific category at the expense of another.

The duty of citizen is to realize that he is the pivot and object of development and that the amelioration of his life is contingent to his increasing ability to improve his skills and efficiency. He should be also aware that good citizens make up a good society, where every member should have a firm belief in respect of law, keenness on performing the national duty, responsible awareness of the importance of attaining a balance between rights and obligations, freedom and responsibility and the right of individual and those of the group.

Second:

We pin great hopes, in the upcoming stage program, on the role that can be played by Egyptian youth and the tasks that should be accomplished. This can guarantee access by these promising generations to knowledge, efficiency and experience, thus enabling them to cope with a new age whose scientific and technological accomplishments depend on intellectual wealth possessed by nations and creative think tanks.

As we ask these new generations to catch up with the latest achievements, increase chances of innovation, implant the roots of technology into the national soil, reinforce Egypt's position in the international competitive market, spread the concepts of perfection, quality and innovation, it should be the duty of the state and the community organizations to guarantee, under this program, the efficiency of the education system,upgrade its capability of self-evolution. This will make it more compatible with an age that depends on the flow of efficient use and circulation of information as well as proper utilization in service of the community.
It became a mandatory requirement for our plans and programs to provide for enlarging the scientific research base, allowing all the guarantees that warrant its freedom. Closer ties should be maintained between research centers and the national production establishments. Incentive structure within the community should be evolved so as to guarantee the attention and care of researchers and innovators. Failing that, we will find ourselves dependent on others' efforts. In return we have to pay a heavy price that undermines our ability to be a competitive part on the world market.

Third:

The national work program of the coming stage rests on a multidimensional vision that aims to enhance our ability to efficiently and effectively deal with the new order so as to achieve the optimum use of its positive aspects and curb its negative ones.
The essence of this vision is to enhance the competitiveness of national production corporations so as to increase Egypt's share in the volume of international trade and capitalize on the relative advantages that allow Egypt to assume a better position in the competition market. It is also our aim to enhance the capabilities of a private sector, fully aware of its role and capable of performing its duty and dealing with a world, fraught with acute competition and ruled by strong corporations and blocs.

Thus, it is incumbent upon us to develop our systems and tools so as to face that challenge and pursue the mega projects that open wider horizons for Egyptian development opportunities, create a sound atmosphere to employ advanced technologies side by side with a new generation, of experienced manpower, qualified to absorb modern technology applications and achieve a tangible leap in export, which is still one of the most crucial economic challenges.

Fourth:

In addition to confronting new problems surfacing in this stage, the national work progam is inspired by a legitimate ambition for Egypt to realize a steady improvement in the income of all citizens, thus moving Egypt to the category of average countries with growing income. This can be achieved through a new national project of a comprehensive technological revival to turn Egypt into a producer of high technology and a base of data industry. In view of its high value-added, this new industry has completely revolutionized quantity and quality standards, realizing a tangible leap in the income levels of a number of countries.

The starting point in this vital project, which I will personally follow up, starting from initiation up to development stages, is to create a highly advanced technological industry, backed jointly by the state agencies and the private sector. We should launch a wide national campaign to eliminate technological illiteracy in the whole community and use computer on a wider scale in schools, institutions, government administrations and non-governmental organizations. Moreover, we endeavor to widely spread training and rehabilitation institutions all over Egypt and motivate the Egyptian labor force to readjust their skills so as to absorb modern technology.

This great project, based on achieving the optimum exploitation of the intellectual, innovative and creative capabilities of Egyptian citizens, represents the real gateway for Egypt into the 21st century.

The technological development of the national work capabilities means to upgrade the productivity of the Egyptian industrial base, make the optimum use of available potentialities and resources, reduce production costs and minimize waste, achieve quality and proficiency. This will enable the Egyptian economy to compete in the international markets and provide new job opportunities generating high income and value-added.

Fifth:

One of the most prominent features of this program is that it fully guarantees that the social dimension will remain one of the mandatory priorities for every decision in accordance with the state's responsibility of caring about the less able classes. This responsibility constitutes a basic element of the legitimacy of rule and a means to maintain social safety and peace.
This will ensure a strong coherent community which gives categories the opportunity to work and participate, cares for the interests of the vast majority and views all the people as partners in development efforts which should benefit every citizen.

Social responsibility has been a part of our basic preoccupation when we stressed the necessity of a gradual economic reform program. So has been when we confirmed the commitment by the state to provide suitable houses for youths and full care for the family, being the center of all future orientations.

So has been when we defined deeper dimensions for the development process beyond economic growth. Such dimensions should guarantee that the base of beneficiaries of the development process will be expanded to cover all categories of the community and the quality of life and services will be bettered so as to enable the simple citizen to reap the fruits of development.

This should also enable the low-income groups to improve their standard of living by means of a substantial progam that backs the establishment of small projects, offering them an advanced priority and convenient finance opportunities the technical aid which facilitates opportunities of success.

Social responsibility will remain a part of basic preoccupation in the future until the social security net will have been extended to cover all citizens and until the community powers, including the state's and other institutions, will have reached a consensus on a new social contract that ensures every citizen a secure future.


Brothers and Sisters,


These are the salient features of our national action program for the forthcoming period that will witness a real improvement in performance methods, a change in domestic relationships that can allow the community institutions to prove their ability to allow wider participation and deeper democratic practice. This will also reinforce the right of the majority to organize voluntary initiatives to better the skills of their members. A change of persons will be also made so that new blood will be infused in the body of national action, by introducing competent and qualified persons who can efficiently perform their duties rather than pose burdens to the stable progress of the country.

As I said, some weeks ago, reform and change are a matter of course in the life and history of nations. What really matters is that each reform should be made with the purpose of preserving and redoubling the people's gains and achievements; with due consideration to outstanding performance and expertise available at each site as well as continued progress and stability of the country.

An accurate balance must be realized between the need for renovation and change in one hand and the requirements of stability necessary for sustained progress on the other. Nations' progress is not reached through random sporadic leaps, but rather through accumulation of achievements over each period.


Brothers and Sisters,


I need not confirm that I will be, as you have known me, strong in defending the right, supporting the interests of the vast majority of the people, seeking the advice and feeling pulse of the masses in every step and decision, I will give you a real picture of reality no matter how hard it may be. I will protect the freedom of opinion and champion a free and responsible national press that preserves the honor and credibility of the printed word. I will also triumph for a strong-constituted and independent judiciary that treats ruler and people on equal footing based on the rule of law. I will also champion a national private sector that cares for its own interests as equally as those of the society and strikes a balance between its role in development and its social responsibility.

I look forward to a shining future looming through a vigorous present fraught with hope and expectation, already built up through our joint efforts and hard work. I look forward to a strong cohesive society in which the abilities of all innovators, creative performers, scientists, and researchers prosper within a proper atmosphere, that elevates the value of work as well as duty and views perfection as the criterion for promotion and progress. The society we look forward to is one that gives youth a chance of self-realization and each citizen the chance to have a fruitful job which would help improve his income and his life.

Moreover, I look forward to a strong country that sets its social responsibility as a topmost concern. It is a state that cares for the weak and the needy, pays its utmost effort to maintain stability, persistently adopts crystal clear policies and strikes against corruption and monopoly with the force of law and the powerful institutions, providing a stable atmosphere for development, where all energies can flourish. We do possess numerous strong factors that guarantee a promising future for Egypt.

We have time-honored people, good citizens who give priority to his national loyalty over his personal interest and an experience fraught with several learned lessons which guarantee clear vision. We do have a unique position enhancing Egypt's competitiveness and distinguished regional and international position. This will safeguard our national interest and help us to be part of our advanced world.

May Allah guide us to the right path, keep us away from pitfalls, make justice as a link between ourselves and our folk. He is the Best Custodian and Supporter.
May Allah's peace and mercy be upon you.

Previous Stories:
  New Egyptian Prime Minister   (10/5/1999)
  Mubarak starts fourth term   (10/5/1999)
  Egypt under Mubarak , the statistics of improvements   (10/4/1999)
  Mubarak: Major change expected in Egypt   (9/28/1999)

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