Shura Council Committee denounce US intervention in Egypt's domestic affairs

The Shura Council Foreign and Arab affairs and National Security Committee on Wednesday denounced the decision adopted by the American Administration to stop additional economic aid to Egypt because of the court ruling against Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Director of Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies.

ÊÊÊ In a statement on Wednesday, the committee, chaired by Fathi Al-Barad'ie, said the decision constituted a serious new development and raised questions of special importance on the strategic relations between Egypt and the United States in this decisive stage.

ÊÊÊ The statement said that Egypt did not and will not accept interference in its domestic affairs, especially in questions involving the independence of the Egyptian judicial system.

ÊÊÊ The committee asserted that Egyptian-American relations were based on strong pillars and characterized by strategic cooperation in maintaining regional stability and settling the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Meantime, the present cloud in the Egyptian-American ties will not strike its core, Egypt's Ambassador to the U.S. Nabil Fahmi said, affirming the importance of relations for both sides.

ÊÊÊ It is the "uncomfortable" controversial issues and problems because they mar Egyptian and American public opinion and place the American view the boundaries of September 11, he told an Egyptian television news programme Tuesday night.

ÊÊÊ He criticized the American statement released in the wake of the verdict handed down against Saadeddin Ibrahim, head of the Ibn Kahldoun Research Center, saying he was surprised at the link between the court sentence and U.S. aid to Egypt.

ÊÊÊ He said the American Administration had made its position on Ibrahim and the court sentence clear last month, but he was told that the aid was linked to the sentence.

ÊÊÊ Egypt will not accept any foreign intervention in its judicial system, and the use of the aid card to change a court ruling is unacceptable, he added.

ÊÊÊ The Supreme State Security Court late last month sentenced Ibrahim to seven years in jail on charges of publishing news, reports and information tarnishing Egypt's image abroad and receiving funds and donations without prior permission in violation of the law.