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US pushes Egypt to democratic reform
US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said Thursday he sought to persuade Egypt's leadership to accept international observers to monitor upcoming elections in a visit that reflected the delicacy of U.S. attempts to push democratic reform in its closest Mideast ally. Skepticism is high among Egyptian opposition groups that a presidential vote in September and parliamentary elections to follow will be fair and transparent, citing past claims of vote fraud and intimidation at the polls that put parliament heavily under the control of the ruling party.
"It's clear one is in a process of transition here," Zoellick told journalists. "I suggested that by having observers frankly that's the idea of how you make transparency real. ... The best way is to be open in the process." The upcoming votes are a key test of the U.S. campaign to press for reform in Egypt, where Mubarak's government plays a key role in other issues, including the peace process with Israel and the conflict in Iraq. In a speech in Cairo last month, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Egypt to let in observers, give opposition parties equal time in the media and ensure fairness in the voting. Mubarak has opened presidential elections to competitors for the first time, after years of being re-elected in referendums in which he was the only candidate. But few believe the election is a real challenge to Mubarak's rule. His government has control of the security forces, which in past votes have been accused of interfering, and dominates media. Zoellick's remarks suggested the United States had to tread carefully in pushing for change. "It's very important to get the right balance between encouragement and support from the outside and making sure the roots (of change) are planted in local soil. These are decisions that Egyptians need to make," he said. "You can try to punch people or you can try to explain the logic to people." "I feel there's a process of change here politically and economically," said Zoellick, who was wrapping up a Mideast tour that took him to Sudan, Jordan and Iraq. Nagui al-Ghatrifi, deputy head of the opposition al-Ghad party, was among the opposition and ruling party officials who met Zoellick on Wednesday. He said he was "not reassured" that Washington would press Mubarak for change. "From the picture we have now, it does not look like these elections are going to be fair. They'll be fraudulent," he said. "There are conditions for a fair vote, and the government isn't meeting them."
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