generalspeaking

Mediating Egypt's Transition

American and European envoys who appeared in Egypt on a 'courtesy call', feel fairly good about their diplomatic intervention, despite their efforts failing to lead to an agreement between the interim government of Egypt and the deposed Muslim Brotherhood. Their presence resulted in an attempt at peaceful dispersal of the Brotherhood-supporting crowds. In their presence, no violence ensued from either side.

And although lethal force was not in evidence, it was evident that the crowds would not be moved from their insistence that they will remain until Mohammed Morsi is restored to the presidency.

Since this most certainly will not happen, it can be safely assumed that nothing but force will persuade the thousands of Brotherhood supporters claiming they will not abandon their vigil for Morsi's return and will in due time result in a confrontation, which will be guaranteed to turn rather ugly. Unless those U.S. and European envoys plan to put up tents alongside those of the protesters,  the inevitable will occur to restore a semblance of civil normalcy to the country.

The offer was to ensure three seats in the interim cabinet for the Brotherhood. An altogether unenticing offer for an organized political group which had just experienced full power in a reluctant country, and whose neglect of the country's needs led to their downfall. While the Western envoys entertained the illusion that the Brotherhood was prepared to accept a partial victory, excluding the return of Mohammed Morsi to power in exchange for a few seats, that is not how the Arab mind works.

Victory is an all-or-nothing exultation; there is no room for compromise. To surrender to compromise is to admit defeat. So the struggle against the leadership and the power assumed by the military will continue, the Brotherhood portraying themselves to sympathetic Western powers as having been horribly wronged, and democracy defeated. The West has been more than willing to express empathy for the Brotherhood.

Though there are some exceptions. Take Canada, for example; one of the few countries to speak of President Morsi's rejection and ejection as a clear coup. Yet the Government of Canada also asserted its opinion that Mohammed Morsi had to accept responsibility for what had occurred, given the hundreds of thousands of Egyptians who rose against his continued mandate. Canada like its Western colleagues has issued calls for political dialogue and peace between security forces and Morsi defenders.

But it sees no reason for international intervention; rather what occurred is a matter between Egyptian powers and its people to settle for themselves. Egyptian Ambassador to Canada, Wael Aboulmagd speaks of Egypt's interim government's commitment to moving forward on a plan to address all concerns leading to Mr. Morsi's removal, and the intention to introduce a more committed type of democracy to the country.

"Between the lines they chose, wisely in my view, not to get entangled in the very complicated, very emotional debate of characterizing what happened in Egypt", said Ambassador Aboulmagd, speaking of Canada's reactions. It is of vital importance, he explained that the world "accept the situation whereby large, large, large numbers of Egyptians felt the country was being hi-jacked and taken in a wrong direction, and to be part of the political process moving forward."

This, despite the current Canadian government's sharp exchange between Ambassador Aboulmagd and Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird resulting from a meeting with an Israeli politician (Tsipi Livni) in her office in East Jerusalem. And indignantly pointed criticism that emanated from Minister Baird when news arose of Mohammed Morsi in 2010 describing Jews as "descendants of apes and pigs" during a televised interview.

"Just by signalling that this was a coup, despite the fact that we didn't have the most warm and fuzzy relationship with the Morsi government was actually pretty bold", re-iterating Canada's belief in the importance of democratic institutions and transitions, said Bessma Momani, a Middle East expert at the Centre for International Governance and Innovation in Waterloo, Ontario.

Labels: Canada, Conflict, Crisis Politics, Egypt, European Union, Islamism, Muslim Brotherhood, United States

posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, August 07, 2013