Reform is on top of the agenda of the National Democratic Party in Egypt

Works of the second conference of the ruling National Democratic Party in Egypt started yesterday morning. Its three-day agenda topped by the issue of reform.

The conference is being held this year under the slogan " the new thinking and the priorities of reforms" with the participation of 2,000 persons from the leadership and members of the ruling party. The conference discussed a report prepared by the party's higher policies committee, which is led by Jamal Mubarak, the younger son of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak over standing reforms, which will be proposed to the government for approval.

The members will discuss work papers prepared by the committee like what is called the citizenship and political reform document, and the recommendations over amending elections laws, the parties, the People's Assembly ( parliament), dialogue with the other political parties and forces. The conference will also discuss means of achieving political reforms that enabling fighting of poverty, improving women's conditions and improving education.

The conference was opened by the speech of the party's secretary general Safwat al-Sharif who stressed that the papers of policies debated in the conference reflects the political side of the election program in which the party will launch the People's Assembly elections next year.

Al-Sharif stressed the end of the age of the single party action or isolated government work. It is, however, decided that President Hosni Mubarak himself will deliver a speech in conclusion of the works of the conference next Thursday.

The party invited ambassadors accredited in Cairo and representatives for foreign parties to take part in a general discussion on the party's new policies, held on the sideline of the conference.

It is also expected that Mubarak (76 year old), of which he spent 23 in power, will announce nominating himself for the fifth term of office to last for 6 years.