Egypt to US: Era of 'Yes, Sir' Has Ended
Egyptian diplomat Amr Moussa tells Al-Monitor's Cale Salih in an exclusive interview that although strong US-Egypt relations are in the best interests of his country, he hopes Egypt will find itself in a position to say no to the US when necessary. Moussa also defended President Morsi, his one-time foe, praising his achievements in office.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, veteran Egyptian diplomat Amr Moussa said that although strong US-Egypt relations are in the best interests of his country, "the era of 'yes sir' has to come to an end."
Moussa also defended the stand of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, his one-time foe, saying "Egypt is in a state of revolution, so how can a new republic based on revolutionary process just ignore the situation in Syria or look the other way?"
Moussa, a former secretary-general of the Arab League (2001–2011) and Egyptian foreign minister (1991–2001), ran this year in Egypt's first presidential elections since former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster. He managed 11% of the vote, failing to qualify for the run-off, which was won by Muslim Brotherhood candidate Morsi. Moussa is now the leader of two coalitions — the Egyptian Conference Party and the Coalition of the Egyptian Nation — representing secular and nationalist parties. The coalitions are dogged by fragmentation but held loosely together by the common aim of challenging the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated parliament and executive office.
Despite their conflicting ideologies, Moussa praised some of Morsi's achievements since assuming office, including the president's curtailment of the military's role in politics. Moussa said Morsi's close relationship with Turkey's Islamic-leaning Justice and Development Party (AKP) are in the "best interests" of Egypt and Turkey.
