About Us

IMRA
IMRA
IMRA

 

Subscribe

Search


...................................................................................................................................................


Friday, October 17, 2014
Egypt's foreign ministry 'surprised' by Carter Center decision to close Cairo offices

Egypt's foreign ministry 'surprised' by Carter Center decision to close
Cairo offices
Egyptian authorities are questioning the 'motives and goals' of the Carter
Center
Ahram Online, Thursday 16 Oct 2014
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/113286/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-foreign-ministry-surprised-by-Carter-Center.aspx

Egypt’s foreign ministry said Thursday it was “surprised” by the decision of
the Carter Center to close its offices in Cairo.

“The center's claims contradict the official letter of the center’s regional
director in August 31, thanking the Egyptian authorities for cooperation
with the center during the past three years…easing its mission in observing
the (elections),” the foreign ministry said in a statement on its official
Facebook page.

“This contradiction reflects a double-standard strategy,” the ministry said,
adding that the official August letter said the closure would be out of
“pure logistical considerations.”

The Carter Center had closed its Egypt office saying the country is
"unlikely to advance a genuine democratic transition."

The organisation criticised in a statement Wednesday Egypt's draft NGO law,
saying it would put harsh restrictions on NGO activities and resources in
Egypt, saying it would "more vigorously" bring back restrictions imposed
during the rule of toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak and "undermine key rights
enshrined in the new constitution.”

"I hope that Egyptian authorities will reverse recent steps that limit the
rights of association and assembly and restrict operations of Egyptian civil
society groups," former US President Jimmy Carter said.

In response, the foreign ministry said the center’s statement included
“wrong conclusions and impartial assessment” that were “lacking accuracy.”

The foreign ministry said the Carter Center’s statement “raises doubts about
the motives and goals of those who may be disturbed by the climate of
stability the country is approaching day after the other.”

The organisation, whose Egypt office opened in 2011 following the 25 January
uprising, said it would not deploy an observation mission to monitor the
country's upcoming parliamentary elections.

Egypt has undergone two polls since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed
Morsi in July of 2013, one on a new constitution in January 2014 and another
on a new president in May 2014 which brought Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to power.
A third vote on parliamentary representatives is expected by the end of the
year.

Egyptian authorities have hailed the international recognition given to
these two last polls as many regional and international organisations
observed voting procedures.

The Carter Center sent a small expert mission that focused on general legal
and political issues during those polls.

Search For An Article

....................................................................................................

Contact Us

POB 982 Kfar Sava
Tel 972-9-7604719
Fax 972-3-7255730
email:imra@netvision.net.il IMRA is now also on Twitter
http://twitter.com/IMRA_UPDATES

image004.jpg (8687 bytes)