US 'committed' to strong ties with Egypt

Despite recent strains over treatment of pro-democracy activists, State Department says Washington, Cairo 'continue to work together to protect regional peace'

AFP|Published: 03.03.12 , 17:50

The United States remains committed to strong ties with Egypt, a US official said Saturday, after tensions over the treatment of US activists who had been barred from leaving Cairo.

"We have all been focused over these past few weeks on the NGO issue, and it is a matter of serious continuing concern for the United States," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

"But it is also important to underscore that the United States remains committed to a strong bilateral relationship with Egypt.

"Despite the recent strains, and differences on certain issues, the fundamentals of this strategic relationship remain strong," she added.

Some 43 foreign democracy activists working for non-government organizations are accused of receiving illicit foreign funds to operate without a license and Egyptian media reported a new trial date had now been set for March 8.

The trial had first opened on Sunday, but began to unravel when the judges recused themselves.

Six Americans were among 13 people allowed to leave Egypt on Thursday after the authorities lifted a travel ban. The other defendants are Egyptian, Palestinian, Norwegian, Serbian and German nationals and if convicted they face jail terms of up to five years.

Egypt and the United States "continue to work together to protect regional peace and security and to address the full range of regional issues before us," Nuland said.

"The United States and Egypt have been close partners for many decades, and we look forward to a close partnership for many decades to come."

However, the decision to release the foreign activists facing trial has angered some Egyptian lawmakers and an official warned Saturday that the country's parliament would probe the decision to let them go.

Speaker Saad al-Katatni said parliament would summon Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri on March 11 to explain the decision and "hold accountable those responsible for this crime, which represented a blatant intervention in the affairs of Egypt's judiciary."

Nuland said Washington was "supporting the transition to democracy in Egypt, and we welcome the progress that has been made by Egypt in conducting free elections for both houses of Parliament."

"The United States is also committed to ensuring Egypt's economic and financial stability," Nuland said, adding the US supported efforts by the IMF to complete economic reforms in the country.

The charges brought against the activists have caused a crisis in relations between the United States and its close Middle Eastern ally.

Washington had suggested it could imperil its more than $1 billion in annual aid to Egypt, much of it funneled to the ruling military which took power after an uprising ousted President Hosni Mubarak a year ago.