Egyptian Foreign Minister: Egypt backs Bahrain in counterterrorism

Manama: April 20 – (BNA): Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi said that Egypt won't back down from supporting of Bahrain in counter-terrorism. The Egyptian Foreign Minister reiterated his country's obligations in this aspect, stressing that the Egyptian national security is wholly connected with the Gulf's national security and that it is Egypt's responsibility to support and back Bahrain in tackling any external danger or assault, reiterating that Egypt will never forget Bahrain's solid supportive stance towards Egypt. In his statement to the Bahrain-based newspaper "Al-Bilad" published today, the Minister said that we are fully aware of all the challenges facing Bahrain which are the same challenges facing Egypt. He said that the Gulf countries', especially as Bahrain's growth, security and political stability are in the interest of Egypt. He added that Bahrain's successfully coping with its internal problems away from any foreign meddling by sides which seek to complicate the internal situation is considered success to all international and Arab efforts which lead to stability of the region and respecting the internal affairs of every country. He said that Egyptian initiatives emanate from our Arab identity and African roots, reiterating that it would be in the interest of Egypt that the Arab world remains stable and strong, especially the Gulf countries which have the same Egypt aspirations emanating from respecting the other and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The Minister expressed regret regarding Egypt's absence from the Arab region for a period of time as a result of the circumstances it experienced which led to its filling with non-Arabs who had agenda of their own aimed to divide the region on ethnic and sectarian grounds, which is wrongful, as belonging to one's country should be on the basis of citizenship and not on sectarianism, he stressed. And regarding Iran's role in nurturing terrorism in Bahrain, the Minister said that he had personally talked to Iran's Foreign Minister on the side-lines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings and frankly told him: If you want to present a positive indicator of a new era in Iran after the latest presidential elections, you must send positive messages to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia also told him they should understand that Iran's national security is connected to the national security and stability of the countries of the Arabian Gulf and that your relations with neighborly countries should be built on respecting the sovereignty of Arab Gulf countries and non-interference in their internal affairs. The Egyptian Minister said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates almost endure the same problem and I can visualize that we have no solution in front of us except a pan-Arab project to tackle all this terrorism, under the umbrella of the Arab League, based upon self-reliance, mutual interdependence and in the end based upon the United Nations vis-à-vis others, a project which should not target any specific entity except that undermines Arab citizens or national security. And regarding Egyptian-US relations and the imbalance ensuing as a result of the June 30 Revolution, the Egyptian Minister said that Americans were unable to understand the Egypt\s reality and the aspiration of its people. The American should have understood that Egyptian decision-making has now become independent and that we will not only remain as loyal friends of America but also as strong friends of any country that respects us. The Minister said that we should admit that the United States of America leads the world currently, and will continue to do so for a decade or two decades after the expiration of the bi-polar world and there is no single pole any more. It would be in the interest of both Egypt and the Arab world to maintain good relations with all countries of the world, including America. He said that if America has good relations and interests in the Arab world, America should manage its relations in a good manner over the long term whilst maintaining a balanced policy between national decision-making, external institution, mutual respect in order to regain the relationship soundly. He said that we in Egypt seek to correct Egypt's foreign policy as a national, pan-Arab policy emanating from our Arab identity and African roots, whilst increasing the element of self-reliance and at the same time affirming that we will not turn back and won't move from one pole to another and won't re-steer our policy towards Moscow which was an ally of Egypt during the Soviet Union era and I do not mean from my speech to criticize anybody. He said that his country has many options to develop its relations and multiple options to chart its futuristic path. He said that to build the future, we should look forward and that emanating from its leading historic and regional role, Egypt will cooperate with Arab brethren to achieve that and will strive to present an exemplary country to be followed, meanwhile everybody else have their own options, and anybody who chooses to follow our example is welcome and those who do not want to follow our example are free to choose. In answer to a question regarding Egypt's joining the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Organization, the Egyptian Minister said that his country has not received any offer from its Gulf brethren, pointing out that Egypt's joining the GCC will crystalize and needs more discussion. However, he said that Egypt, whether it joins the GCC or not, will support everything that consolidates and contributes into the interest of GCC countries in all manner and fields, including security cooperation. Nabil Fahmi said that Egypt upholds the Arab project conceived in the 1940s, which is the Arab League, which currently faces crises that weakened it as a pan-Arab project, unfortunately, most of them caused by us and a few of them due to external reasons. He expressed his belief that it would be best to revive this pan-Arab project and consolidate it in order to contribute into the interest of Arab entities, including the Organization of countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). He added that inside the Arab League we may differ on various matters, for instance, the Common Arab Market, Customs' Tariffs, and other secondary matters. But we should not differ as to terrorism which seeks to wrack Egypt, Bahrain and several other Arab countries or as to the need to fight and uproot terrorism. The Egyptian Foreign Minister stressed the significance of reviving the Joint Arab Defence Treaty in order to tackle all anticipated risks or armed attack which targets one or more of the Arab countries, pointing out that what was faced by Bahrain was an example which makes it imperative to activate the Joint Arab Defence Treaty. The Egyptian Minister said that the recent military maneuvers implemented by the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates was a message which was not directed at any specific enemy but in essence was a strong message which affirms that we do not antagonize anybody but at the same time we cannot tolerate any hostile enemy who attacks us. 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