Egypt, Senior US officials meet with Muslim Brotherhood

Sarah Sheffer | 6 October 2011 |

CAIRO: Senior US officials met with members of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, in what has been described as “the first meeting of its kind.” [IS IT??]

The closed-door meeting was held at the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in Cairo.

Dr. Mohamed Saad Katatni, the Secretary General of the FJP, Prem G. Kumar, the Director of the Egypt Desk at the US National Security Organization, and Amy Destefano, the First Secretary of the US Embassy in Cairo were all in attendance.

US officials met with the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party to discuss US-Egypt relations.

The officials discussed Egypt’s democratic transition and the future of Egypt-US relations.
Dr. Katatni spoke with the officials about US intervention in Egypt’s domestic affairs, the Arab-Israeli conflict and US support for Arab dictators.

“If America wants to build balanced relations with the countries of the region after the Arab Spring, it should re-read the new scenario in accordance to the will of the peoples of the region as this has become a critical factor in the political equation,” Dr. Katatni reportedly told the officials.

He emphasized that US-Egypt relations should be based on mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs.

Prem G. Kumar reported that the US administration “is seeking dialogue with all the political forces in Egypt, especially after the changes post-revolution.”

He said that he supports democratic change in Egypt and the Arab region. He went on to say that the US is eager to financially assist the countries of the Arab Spring as they recover economically.
The Muslim Brotherhood is one of the most well established political parties in Egypt since the revolution that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak last February.

They have significant grassroots capacity, and are expected to gain sizable wins in upcoming Parliamentary elections.

"Sister Hilary"
We welcome, therefore, dialogue
with those Muslim Brotherhood
members who wish to talk with us.”

"Sister Hilary with "Brother"
Ahmet Davutoglu 

Last week, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton interviewed with Egypt’s Al-Hayat TV. She was asked about whether the US would be willing to work with a Muslim Brotherhood led government.

“We will be willing to and open to working with a government that has representatives who are committed to non-violence, who are committed to human rights, who are committed to the democracy that I think was hoped for in Tahrir Square,” she said.

According to previous US foreign policy, US officials were only allowed to engage in dialogue with members of the Muslim Brotherhood who won seats in the now-dissolved Egyptian Parliament.
BM

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