Egypt, the Arabs and the United States

Mostafa El-Fiki, deputy chairman of the foreign relations committee of the People’s Assembly and former first assistant for the minister of foreign affairs, spoke at a May 22 luncheon at the Cairo Marriott Hotel about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and U.S. relations with the Arab world. El-Fiki argued that the United States and the Arab countries share a common interest in peace and stability. "Escalation of violence is the main worry of all the countries in the region," he said, referring to the current, deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories.

He then gave a brief history of U.S.-Arab relations with a focus on Egypt. El-Fiki told the audience that when Egypt’s revolutionary regime came to power in 1952, "Egyptian-U.S. relations were expected to be closer and stronger." Prior to the revolution, there had been secret contacts between the Free Officers and the U.S. government. Moreover, despite the differences with Egypt that led to the withdrawal of international funding for the Aswan High Dam, the U.S. government persuaded Israel to withdraw from Sinai following the 1956 war.

The nature of U.S.-Egyptian relations changed drastically in the years that followed however. El-Fiki noted that "one of the worst chapters" in U.S.-Arab relations has been the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war, adding that relations had been colored ever since by the unresolved Arab-Israeli conflict.

Nasser’s successor, Sadat, however, opened a new chapter in Egyptian-U.S. relations. "I consider Sadat the second statesman in Egyptian foreign policy, after Mohamed Ali," El-Fiki said, adding that Sadat’s greatest achievements were his initiatives for peace in the Middle East. President Mubarak’s policies have remained in line with those of Sadat, albeit "with some changes and modifications."

Despite some ups and downs, largely pertaining to the Arab-Israeli conflict, "U.S. interests in the region are generally oriented to pursuit of friendship," El-Fiki said. However, the U.S. presence in the Gulf "is one of those things used by people who are against the U.S. presence in the region."

El-Fiki stressed that Egyptians, and Arabs in general, have a preference for good relations with the United States. After all, "no one wants a confrontation with a superpower. But continuous American support for Israel is still putting many Arabs in that direction."

In order to maintain regional stability and preserve strong relations with the Arab world, the U.S. government must reassess its role in the Middle East, El-Fiki said. "The United States, as a superpower, carries the responsibility of leadership," he said.

El-Fiki said that the Clinton administration had very good relations with the Arabs. "The attention that Clinton gave to the Middle East, and the channels he kept open, are still appreciated." Although the U.S. supported Israel, as always, Clinton "was able to find ways and means to create a sort of balance in his foreign policy in the region." This stands in sharp contrast to the current administration of George W. Bush. "The new Republican administration lacks a comprehensive outlook on future of Arab-U.S. relations," El-Fiki said. The Bush administration has "no defined agenda," he said, and this is "creating a negative reaction compared to the active role of the previous administration."

With Ariel Sharon as prime minister of Israel, the regional situation has deteriorated badly, and the new U.S. administration has done nothing to stop this. "We are not in a position to judge now," El-Fiki acknowledged. "Five or six months is not enough time, but our worries are increasing day by day."

As for U.S.-Egyptian relations, El-Fiki said that Egypt remains the Americans’ gateway to the Arab world – just as it was for the former Soviet Union. However, in the current climate of foreign relations, sensitive issues in Egypt’s internal politics – such as human rights and the status of minorities – also have to be considered. The case of Professor Saad Eddin Ibrahim, for example, has caused a strain in relations with the United States. In the question and answer session that followed, El-Fiki reiterated the need for the United States to revise its attitudes regarding certain issues. "We will never continue accepting a double standard," he said. "We expect to be treated as friends. To change its image, the United States must revise foreign policy in the region, and there must be some degree of balance."

The luncheon was attended by approximately 250 guests.

The meeting was also the occasion for AmCham Egypt’s "pre-AGM" activities. Before El-Fiki’s speech, former AmCham president Ahmed Shawqi read the slate of nominees from the nominating committee for the 2001-2003 Board of Governors, and then invited general members to make additional nominations from the floor. Elections for the board were held at the Annual General Meeting on May 29. 

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