(AFP Photo)
Egypt’s “remarkable progress” represents “hope” for stability in the Middle East, according to the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Al-Nahyan said on Saturday that the UAE “hopes for the recovery and restoration of security and stability in the region” adding that the Egypt “and its good governance in implementing its political roadmap” represents this move toward regional stability.
Al-Nahyan, speaking at the 69th United Nations General Assembly, said the UAE “regrets the statements of some countries and their unacceptable questioning of the legitimacy of the Egyptian government”, stressing that the current government was “freely elected by its people, who believe in their ability to fulfil their aspirations”.
The UAE foreign minister stressed: “Questioning the Egyptian people’s will and their right to choose their representatives is an interference in the internal affairs of Egypt and undermines its stability”.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi claimed a landslide election victory in June and appointed Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb who in-turn appointed the current cabinet of ministers. Parliamentary elections are expected later this year.
During his speech at the General Assembly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was highly critical of the United Nations’ response to the military-backed ouster of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Egypt’s foreign ministry rejected his comments and cancelled a scheduled bilateral meeting that was set to take place on the sidelines of the international assembly at the UN headquarters in New York.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil El-Araby also condemned Erdogan’s comments, describing them as an “interference of internal Arab affairs”.
The UAE has been a strong backer of Egypt since Morsi’s removal, pledging a $3bn aid package to Egypt following the change of power last summer, as well as shipments of fuel worth $225m and a further $2bn of aid in the form of deposits and grants.
Al-Nahyan, citing the importance of Egypt to regional security, called on the international community to “provide the necessary support to the Egyptian government and its economy to boost their efforts towards achieving progress and prosperity”. He also thanked Saudi Arabia for its support for Egypt’s economy for the announcement of “The Egyptian Economic Summit”, scheduled for February 2015. Saudi Arabia also announced billions of dollars worth of aid for Egypt following Morsi’s ouster.
