Moussa's vision for Egypt

Moussa's vision for Egypt
By Euronews
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The former Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, has given an exclusive interview to euronews as he visited our new bureau in Brussels. He spoke about the Libyan crisis, the situation in Syria, his presidential ambitions in Egypt and Arab-Israeli relations.

Charles Salamé, euronews:
“Secretary General welcome to euronews. With the European Union immersed in economic crises in countries like Greece, do you believe it is capable of giving proper sustainable economic support to the Arab countries undergoing change?”

Amr Moussa:
“The European Union will not be the only one to give aid. There’s the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund. There are the governments of the industrialised nations and there’s Arabic capital too. So the European Union could play its part in that assistance.”

euronews:
“Europe was caught by surprise with the Arab Spring revolutions and its reactions have lost it credibility, because of what it didn’t do in Tunisia, what it failed to understand in Egypt, and what it is doing in Libya. Can the EU be relied on and how?”

Amr Moussa:
“Arab countries must stand on their own feet first and foremost. The Arab revolutions were neither directed nor inspired, rather they emanated from a reality which drove the birth of these revolutions which many of us had seen coming,as the situations were being aggravated and were not acceptable any more, up to the explosions which surprised the West which seemed to rely on the stability of authoritarian regimes based on repression.

“In our countries, we sensed the instability of these regimes and the arrival of revolution, whereas the West didn’t expect it and is currently going through a phase of self-criticism about the length of time it took them to understand the reality and to react with help.”

euronews:
What’s your view of the military intervention in Libya, and do you believe the West will intervene wherever there is a revolution in an Arab country?”

Amr Moussa:
“I’m not sure that’s going to happen, and I think recourse to military force will not deliver answers in the dangerous situation in that country. But a cease-fire is itself an important step towards calming tensions and saving human lives, and opens the door to a new Libya. But will it bring universal agreement, is there a possibility of an Arab intervention? All that is under discussion.”

euronews:
“The Arab League stepped in directly in Libya, but not in other revolutions. Why was that?”

Amr Moussa:
“Arab League policy is not decided by the Secretary General but by the countries in the League. On Libya, there was a clear vote from 22 Arab countries. On Syria Arab nations shared the role with the Secretary General, but the decision depends on the vote.”

euronews:
“Mr Moussa, do you still intend to stand in the election for Egyptian president, and do you already have a definitive view of the future of Egypt, like General de Gaulle had for the future of France.”

Amr Moussa:
“For some time now I’ve formed my vision for the future of Egypt, and that’s why I’m standing in the election, because I believe I could serve Egypt better than the other candidates.”

euronews:
“If you’re elected, what is the future of peace with Israel?”

Amr Moussa:
“The future of peace and Arab-Israeli relations are clear, and is based on the decisions taken at the Beirut summit of 2002. As for relations between Egypt and Israel, they’re governed by a bi-lateral treaty which must be respected on each side for it to remain effective.”

euronews:
“If you are elected, would you commit to not seeking a second term?”

Amr Moussa:
“Certainly, just one term, I promise that again and you are my witness.”

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