3/9/2013

Every Friday, the MB organizes riots, bloodshed, and most recently, assassination. All over the country, the nation wonders: When is this going to end? We can we put the chaos behind us and restore law and order? It is only when peace and normalcy are restored to our cities that we can hope for economic recovery to begin. Until then, the stock market will remain jittery and foreign investors will stay away.

Since the massive protests of June 30, the MB has been in a vengeful mood, resentful of its ouster from power. The MB and its allies have not only occupied public squares, such a Rabaa and Nahda, but attacked police stations, as in Kerdasa. Still, the security forces expelled them from one square after another, and are determined to confront their acts of terror.

Terrorism is not invincible, and with the masterminds behind bars, I am sure, it will not go on forever. I cannot forget the words of Mohamed al-Beltagi, who reassured us that “what is going on in Sinai will stop the moment General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi allows Morsi back into office!”

Al-Beltagi and his friends, acting in unison with groups linked to al-Qaeda, and relying on its alliance with assorted jihadists and Hamas, have done everything from challenging the army into a fight to defying the authority of the state in Sinai. After his arrest, Safwat Hegazy, who was one of the main speakers during the Rabaa sit-in denied having any connections to the brotherhood, and retracted everything he said in his public speeches. Hegazy, who insulted almost everyone in this country, from the thirty million people who demanded the ouster of Morsi to General el-Sisi, is now recanting everything he said.

Even before Beltagy and Safwat Hegazy were arrested, other MB leaders were also apprehended, such as General Guide Mohammed Badie and – of course – former President Mohamed Morsi. Since then, the MB has been thrashing about like a chicken with its head cut off. I am fully aware that there are decent people among the rank and file, but on the whole, the MB’s propensity for violence has been remarkable indeed.

Meanwhile, this nation is ready to get back to work. The whole country is eager to get the economy back on track. I would like to draw attention here to the initiative of Industry and Trade Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, with which he hopes to restore investors’ confidence through a package of measures involving improved access to energy resources, industrial zones, and reduced red tape.

Abdel Nour, working closely with his talented team, is trying to develop a road map for promoting Egypt’s industry. And I wish to remind him, while we’re talking of investors, that Egypt actually has a long line of investors whose applications for various projects have not yet been processed by the Industrial Development Authority. Action on these applications, I expect, will be part of any future roadmap.

Another problem has recently cropped up with regard to the EU. There have been reports to the effect that the EU is thinking of turning down Egyptian exports on account of its displeasure with current political developments in Egypt. If true, this would be astounding, for Egypt exports only about $10 billion to the EU every year, but imports about $30 billion. So, perhaps the foreign minister would like to mention this fact in future communication with EU officials. I am sure his interlocutors, especially the Italians, will get the point.

translated from Al Youm 7