aily EWS MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 N D Issue No. 2190 NEwstANd pricE LE 4.00 www.thedailynewsegypt.com Egypt’s Only Daily Independent Newspaper In English

MENA coordiNAtor iN A pAssivE powEr ruNNiN’ ‘rouNd iN cAiro White House coordinator for the Defence Minister Al-Sisi says the Cairo Runners’s half marathon , North Africa and the Armed Forces will not intervene in proved to be impressively Gulf Region Philip Gordon comes political affairs or begin policing organised, even while they ran in to Cairo 2 the streets 3 Egypt’s traffic-lawless streets 8 Central Bank receives $3bn Court to rule on Council next month Qatari deposit for bonds The court said the verdict regarding the legality of the Bonds to mature in three years with 3.5% interest rate Shura Council and Constituent Assembly, a case that began last year, will be announced on 2 June

By Hend Kortam ing, forcing the court to suspend its activity. The Supreme Constitutional Court By the time the court reconvened will announce the verdict regarding the the new constitution had passed. status of the Shura Council on 2 June. The new constitution transfers full The case regarding the upper legislative authority to the Shura house of parliament had been re- Council until a new lower house, ferred to the State Commissioners renamed the House of Representa- Authority, an advisory panel of ex- tives, is elected. perts, to give its recommendations The constitution also bestows new since the status of the legislature has legislative powers on the council in changed after the adoption of the general, in addition to the ones it held constitution. during the transitional period. Several lawyers filed complaints The Commissioners Authority re- calling for the dissolution of the coun- port recommended the court should cil, arguing that the law its elections not dissolve the Shura Council since were based upon is unconstitutional. it is protected in the new constitu- The court had in June dissolved the tion and is entrusted with legislative People’s Assembly, the lower house, authority. leaving the Shura Council as the na- The Supreme Constitutional tion’s only legislature. It ruled the Court is also expected to announce elections law, which was the same for its verdict on the now-dissolved both houses, unconstitutional. Constituent Assembly which draft-

DNE Photo The court was meant to rule on ed the constitution on 2 June, as the central Bank of Egypt (cBE) received a $3bn Qatari deposit for the purchase of Egyptian bonds on thursday, confirmed Nidal Assar, the sub-governor of the cBE these cases on 2 December but Is- well as the constitutionality of the lamist supporters of President Mo- emergency law; several lawyers had By Lamia Nabil Thursday, confirmed Nidal Assar, the procedures to issue the bonds ised to buy Egyptian bonds follow- hamed Morsi besieged the building filed cases declaring the emergency the sub-governor of the CBE. to , which will mature in three ing a visit by Prime Minister Hes- and prevented judges from enter- law unconstitutional. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Assar added that the Qatari de- years with an interest rate of rate ham Qandil to Doha in April. received a $3bn Qatari deposit for posit will remain at the CBE until of 3.5%. the purchase of Egyptian bonds on the Ministry of Finance prepares The Qatari government prom- continued on page 7 Fatah, hold collects over two million signatures reconciliation talks Rebellion campaign aims to collect 15 million signatures withdrawing confidence from Morsi by the first anniversary of his inauguration in Cairo Hamas’ foreign affairs spokesperson says the time has come for By rana Muhammad taha In the campaign’s first press con- Campaign members also called also dismissed the possibility of the ference, held on Sunday, its members on all opposition movements to military forcefully removing Morsi. Fatah and Hamas to take steps to create change on the ground Tamarod campaign announced on Sun- announced the two million signatures hold onto their initial decision to “Our campaign doesn’t call for a day it had collected 2,029,592 signatures were collected in 10 days alone. Cam- boycott the upcoming parliamen- military coup,” the Tamarod spokes- from withdrawing confidence paign spokesperson tary elections. person said. “We call on people to turn in as president. said that the signatures proved the Badr also commented on Minister against the president and withdraw Tamarod, or “Rebellion”, is a peti- people have started to lose their con- of Defence Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi’s latest their confidence in him since he be- tion campaign that was launched in fidence in Morsi. statements. The defence minister said trayed his agreement with the people.” late April to gather signatures disap- “If you are confident about your on Saturday that the army was not the Meanwhile at , proving of President Morsi. The cam- popularity, hold early presidential solution to the current political issues campaign members collecting signa- paign is also calling for early presiden- elections,” Badr said, addressing Presi- the country faces, and that it would tures were subjected to harassment tial elections. dent Morsi and his aides. not resort to policing the streets. He by alleged af- filiates. Mahmoud Hussein, campaign coordinator in Giza, said four cam- paign members were shortly held at a university security office after going to the security officials to complain about the harassment. Tamarod was launched two weeks ago by members of . The cam- paign is aiming to collect 15 million signatures before 30 June, the day that will mark Morsi’s one year anniversary in power. Several opposition groups announced their solidarity with the

campaign including the 6 April Youth Office / Hamas Press AFP Photo Movements, both the Democratic palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaa met and Ahmed Maher fronts. earlier in cairo in January “Our campaign will succeed,” Badr said during the press conference. “On By Luiz sanchez station, that Abbas is expected to hold

Courtesy of Tamrod campaign Tamrod Courtesy of 30 June, we will be at the [presidential] various meetings with Hamas leaders, tamarod campaign announced it had collected 2,029,592 signatures in a press conference on sunday palace with 15 million signatures.” A delegation of Fatah and Hamas offi- starting on Sunday evening. cials are currently in Cairo holding talks Hamas and Fatah agreed to hold on reconciliation and the formation of talks on reconciliation in 2011 and Egyptian Stock Exchange a unified government for Palestine. The reached a deal in April that year. The Commentary head of Fatah’s delegation, Azzam Al- deal was made with the help of Egyp- 7.159 7.7009 Closing Daily Change Taher El Moataz Bellah writes: Ahmed, said that President Mahmoud tian diplomats, and stipulated that EGX 30 5,446.68 0.78% If the students are to regain their po- Abbas would meet President Mohamed elections to establish a unity govern- 6.9562 6.9863 sition as a player in national politics Morsi in the coming days, according to ment would be held within 12 months in a time marked by marginalisation state-owned Al-Ahram. of signing the new agreement. EGX 70 455.51 -0.11% 8.9663 9.5723 of youth from a patriarchal society, Abbas is expected to look to Morsi Both Fatah and Hamas ratified the they will have to regard themselves for help in the reconciliation effort, agreement the following year in Doha, 10.5799 11.3234 EGX 100 766.37 0.35% as the seed of the future Egyptian left because Egypt has been sponsoring Qatar, although no elections have the talks. been held as of yet. 1.848 1.8933 EGX 20 6,218.34 0.24% page 5 Al-Ahmed reportedly told the Voice of Palestine, the Palestinian official radio continued on page 2 2 Daily news egypt MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 www.thedailynewsegypt.com

irrigation minister: egypt not Foreign minister to participate opposed to Renaissance Dam

By Luiz Sanchez tween Egypt and . In order in OiC meeting on Mali to deal with the issue surrounding Minister of Water Resources and Ir- the dam’s effects on downstream Amr will stress egypt’s support for development in mAli rigation Mohamed Bahaa ElDin said nations, an international panel of ex- on Saturday that Egypt does not op- perts (IPoE) was established to inves- sues and its commitment to support tional and regional support for the the Malian military staged a coup pose the establishment of develop- tigate the impact of the dam. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mo- African peace and security”. development process in Mali”. d’état, which was condemned by the ment projects or dams along the The IPoE consists of ten experts hamed Kamel Amr travelled to Jed- The meeting in Jeddah will ad- Roshdy asserted that Amr would international community. Following River as long as it does not affect wa- from Ethiopia, , Egypt and dah on Sunday afternoon ahead of dress the issues raised in the Dec- take this opportunity to reiterate negotiations, Dioncounda Traoré as- ter distribution between countries. members of the international com- a ministerial group meeting of the laration on Mali that the OIC an- Egypt’s “support for the unity of sumed the presidency and pledged Bahaa ElDin’s statement, made dur- munity. It is expected to complete Organisation of Islamic Coopera- nounced in February. One of the Mali and its sovereign and territorial to fight the rebels in order to regain ing an interview on a state TV channel, the report this month, and Egypt has tion (OIC) on the situation in Mali main topics to be discussed is “the integrity”. He added that Amr would control of the country. was in relation to the construction of said it will base future dialogue sur- to be held on Monday. establishment of a special fund on also highlight that Egypt has provided In response to Traoré’s request the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, rounding the dam on IPoE findings. Ministry spokesperson Amr Ro- a voluntary basis to support devel- humanitarian aid for displaced Mali- for military assistance, France which many fear will alter the balance Egypt has previously refused to shdy said in a statement published opment in Mali”, said Roshdy. ans, “as well as Egyptian programs to launched Opération Serval in Janu- of water to downstream countries sign the Entebbe Agreement, which on Sunday that the formation of the This meeting comes at a time build the capacity of national cadres ary 2013 in order to help combat such as Egypt and Sudan. The minister would see a redistribution of Nile ministerial group to follow the situ- when a series of regional and inter- in a number of areas in order to build the rebels. said Ethiopia has the right to pursue water. The redistribution would po- ation in Mali is a result of the Islamic national meetings are being held on state institutions and enable it to ful- Both the Egyptian Ministry of such projects as long as it does not tentially have a negative effect on Summit that was held in Cairo in the situation in Mali, according to fil its development process”. Foreign Affairs and President Mo- alter Egypt’s water shares. Egypt’s share of the water; 55.5 bil- February. Roshdy said the group in- the ministry statement. Amr will also Conflict broke out in Mali in Janu- hamed Morsi spoke out against According to the state-run news lion cubic metres annually from an cludes 15 member states and Egypt participate in an international donor ary 2012 between the government French intervention in January, agency MENA, the Ethiopian prime estimated total 84 billion cubic me- was keen to be included in the group conference in Brussels on Wednes- and Islamist rebels who seized the stressing the need for a peaceful minister has promised the state will tre output. “confirming its interest in African is- day, which aims to “mobilise interna- north of the country. In March 2012 settlement to the conflict. not allow the dam to affect Egypt’s Reports last year surrounding a share of the water, stressing that potential military strike on the dam the dam serves only to generate by Egypt were vehemently denied airport denies electricity. by Egyptian authorities. The allega- white House official visits Cairo During his interview Bahaa ElDin tions were initially made in a Su- detaining also mentioned the international danese newspaper citing Wikileaks Obama’s Middle East coor- civil society representatives, politi- committee tasked with investigat- documents alleging that Sudan had emad gad dinator visits Cairo for high cal parties, and business leaders. ing the potential effects of the dam, agreed to allow Egypt to construct Linfield said Gordon’s visit will saying if the committee concluded an airbase from where Egypt would The Egyptian Social Democratic Party level meetings “focus on overall US-Egypt rela- the dam would have an adverse ef- be able to launch an airstrike on the (ESDP) issued a statement on Saturday tions and will reiterate US support fect on Egypt then discussions with dam if needed. saying that Vice-Chairman Emad Gad By Joel Gulhane for Egypt’s democratic transition”. Ethiopia to find an alternative would On Saturday Minister of Defence was stopped by airport security at Gordon met with Secretary be needed. Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi refused to resort Cairo International Airport and taken White House coordinator for the General of the Nabil If no agreement can be reached to military force to solve any water to Homeland Security. Middle East, North Africa and the El-Araby on Sunday morning. The between Egypt and Ethiopia, MENA disputes Egypt may have with neigh- Gad was returning from Beirut af- Gulf Region Philip Gordon arrived pair discussed developments of the reported Bahaa ElDin saying, then bouring countries. His statement was ter attending a conference on “build- in Cairo on Saturday for a series of situation in , the Palestinian is- Egypt would turn to international made in a military camp in Dahshour ing a modern state in the context of meetings. sue, and the latest developments in rules and laws to settle the mat- where, according to state-owned Al-

the Arab movement”. He and writer David Linfield, Acting Press At- AFP Photo the region, reported state-owned ter. However the minister stressed Ahram, he told the press that Egypt Amina Shafik were stopped upon taché at the US Embassy in Cairo, White House coordinator for the news agency MENA. ties between the two nations were would look for a peaceful solution to their arrival in Egypt, according to the said that Gordon’s visit is sched- Middle East, North Africa and the This is Gordon’s first visit to strong and Ethiopia would be flex- the Ethiopian issue. ESDP statement. uled to last for “a few days” and he Gulf Region Philip Gordon is in Egypt since he assumed his role at ible if needed. “We want to live and [Ethiopians] Gad was allegedly taken to the will meet with government officials, Cairo to hold top level meetings the White House in March. The dam is a contentious issue be- want to live,” Al-Sisi said. Homeland Security office inside the airport because he had a similar name to a suspected criminal, according to the statement. Gad and Shafik were detained for half Court reverses seven-year sentence for ezz an hour, according to Mohamed Arafat, secretary of the public action commit- Steel tycoon wins a court appeal with the Court of Cassation, reversing a seven-year jail sentence tee of ESDP. Arafat called the incident an attempt to terrorise the opposition. The Court of Cassation revoked on Councillor Ahmed Abdel Rah- additional damages nearly double 2011. He was also fined EGP 2bn. guard” within the party. , the airport’s public re- Sunday the seven-year jail sentence man accepted the steel tycoon’s that amount. Ezz was a prominent figure in Despite his advocacy for free lations director, told Daily News Egypt served to Egyptian steel tycoon appeal to the verdict and ordered The Giza Criminal Court also former president ’s market policies, Ezz, who was also that “the incident never occurred”. for money laundering. his retrial. The Sunday session was sentenced Ezz to 37 years in a now defunct National Democratic a member of the lower house of He added that it only took Gad about In October 2012, Ahmed Ezz was held at the High Court building. high security prison in March. He Party (NDP). He was also one of parliament, the People’s Assembly, four minutes to go through the pass- sentenced to seven years in prison The court also found that Ezz was convicted of profiteering and the closest allies of Mubarak’s son, has long been accused of holding port checking process and that he was and ordered to pay over EGP 19bn laundered over EGP 6bn, which he laundering around EGP 5bn worth Gamal, and the two were viewed a monopoly on the steel market in not taken to Homeland Security. in fines by a Cairo criminal court. was ordered to pay back, as well as of public funds between 2001 and as the defining figures of the “new Egypt. Fatah, Hamas hold BCHR rejects arrest of alleged reconciliation talks in Cairo bomb plotters Continued from page 1 Hamas to make a decision regarding the to prove we can achieve an agreement Three people arrested for allegedly planning to carry out ‘terrorist attacks’ in Cairo implementation of the Doha agreement despite what the US wants.” Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a founding mem- and the Cairo agreements. In order to achieve reconciliation, and ber and leading figure in Hamas, said in “We have to focus on national Hammad says there are no precondi- an interview with Al-Aqsa TV on Satur- interests, not US calculations,” Ham- tions. “We want to begin implement- day that the delegation would focus on mad said. “The US is not interested ing the agreement and do not need reconciliation and elections to resolve in a successful reconciliation and they more conditions for it to happen.” key crises between Fatah and Hamas. have tried to influence Abbas’ govern- “Now is the time for Fatah and He blamed the Palestinian Authority ment to stall negotiations.” Hamas to make a decision and to go for disrupting the reconciliation pro- Hammad stressed reconciliation is for elections,” Hammad said. “Peo- cess, saying they are tied to the United the most important factor for Hamas ple are really upset and frustrated States position which rejects reconcili- at the moment. “Restoring national because we have met many times ation between the two factions. unity will give Palestinians more in Cairo and Doha but nothing has Ghazi Hammad, the Hamas foreign strength and support,” he said. “We been done on the ground. I hope this affairs spokesperson, told Daily News have to face American pressure on time we are more practical in order Egypt the time has come for Fatah and the Palestinian Authority and we have to achieve results.” electricity company workers on strike Workers demand equal rights and healthcare Photo from Mohamed Ibrahim’s page page Facebook Mohamed Ibrahim’s from Photo By Nourhan Dakroury panies,” Moussa said. of the Electricity and Energy Workers Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim had said that the suspects were planning to bomb an embassy in Cairo She said that school grants for Union, said that the council demanded Workers from electricity compa- workers’ children are deducted from the formation of a delegation of work- By Hend Kortam suspects, Mohamed Saleh and Mo- Zakaria described the case against nies from around the country went their bonuses although the grants are ers to negotiate with the Ministry of hamed Bayoumi from Alexandria, Bayoumi as full of fabrications. on strike on Sunday at the Cabinet provided by the government. Electricity and Energy. Bara’a Centre for Human Rights and Amr Mohamed from Cairo. The In a press conference on Saturday, building. She added that this is the first time The workers refused to form the (BCHR) released a statement on Sat- prosecution ordered the detention Ibrahim said the police had appre- Workers Media Coordinator at that workers from all over Egypt have delegation because they have previ- urday condemning the recent arrest of Saleh and Bayoumi for 15 days and hended suspects who were planning the Egyptian Centre for Economic come together on strike. ously met with the ministry and only of three people accused of plotting placed Mohamed under house arrest to attack an embassy in Cairo. He re- and Social Rights (ECESR) Dalia According to ECESR, the work- received empty promises from offi- terrorist attacks, stating that the ma- for 15 days. fused to name the embassy. Moussa said that the workers have ers are demanding workers from cials, according to Wael Aql, president terials found with the alleged plotters Zakaria said the materials found in He described the suspects as a ter- been treated unequally and have the holding company and the subsidy of the Workers Union. were not explosives. Bayoumi’s possession are organic fer- rorist group and said that although complained of increasing corrup- companies be given the same rights, “We are going to hold out for a con- Three people were arrested for al- tilisers that are not explosive and can they are ideologically linked to Al-Qa- tion in the Ministry of Electricity healthcare be provided for them and crete timetable setting out when our legedly planning to carry out terrorist be found in any home with a garden. eda, they are not a part of the group’s and Energy. their families, school grants be given demands will be addressed,” Moheb said. attacks on three vital institutions in According to Minister of Interior Mo- organisational structure. Ibrahim “Those who work in the holding to the workers’ children, and all syn- He added that if this timetable is the capital and Alexandria. hamed Ibrahim, a bag containing 10kg added that there was evidence that company have more privileges than dicates be treated equally. not issued soon, workers will go on Ahmed Zakaria, a BCHR lawyer, of aluminum nitrate was found in the the suspects had been in contact with those who work in the subsidy com- Ahmed Moheb, secretary general an open-ended strike. attended the interrogations of three suspect’s possession. two Al-Qaeda leaders. MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 Daily news egypt 3

www.thedailynewsegypt.com

Residents of al-Duweiqa 6 april Democratic Front begin threaten escalation of protests Cairo neighbourhood residents accuse Cairo governor of sit-in for detained member ‘stalling’ Youth group holds a sit-in at presidential palace in solidaritY with detainees Residents of the Al-Duweiqa neigh- displacing the residents. The govern- bourhood threatened to escalate ment provided them with five-year By Joel Gulhane The front met in front of Saray only for Mohsen and Ali, but also for cal activists. Also in April, members their protests against the Cairo gov- contracts in other housing units, but Al-Qobba metro station on Sunday all detainees. of the front cycled around central ernorate if it continues to “disregard now the tenants fear they will be The 6 April Democratic Front began a afternoon, having announced in a The statement from the group said Cairo in order to raise awareness their demands”. evicted when their contracts expire. sit-in, on Sunday, in front of the presi- statement that they would erect a the demonstration would “demand for their cause. Last Friday the group They publically refused the “stall- They stated their interest in dential palace in solidarity with two mock prison cell “which symbol- their (the detainees’) release and de- also marched to the Giza security ing” of the governor of Cairo in a buying the housing units they have men who are in prison awaiting ques- ises complete solidarity with the nounce violations of the Ministry of directorate. press conference, on Sunday, and been renting from the government, tioning, scheduled for Monday. detainees”. Interior, the prosecutor general and The 6 April Youth Movement, a sep- said they were unable to pay the but the latter said that they would The two men are Abdelrahman The front’s statement said the Free the selective arrests by the Muslim arate group of the same origin, dem- accumulated bills demanded by the be required to pay the aggregate “Mano” Mohsen and Youseff “Joseph Front for Political Change and mem- Brotherhood regime and [President onstrated outside the High Court governorate authorities. costs for utilities that they have El-Ostura” Ali, who were both arrest- bers of the newly formed “Hanharrar- Mohamed] Morsi”. building on Saturday and also called The residents demonstrated used over the past five years. Ac- ed in dawn raids on their homes on hom” (We Will Free Them) campaign The front has been actively calling for the release of detained activists, outside the state media building cording to the group of neighbour- 19 April. Mohsen is a formal member would also take part in the sit-in. for the release of detained activists including Mohsen and Ali. in Maspero demanding they be al- hood families, some residents owe of the front while Ali is closely asso- Mustafa Al-Hagary, spokesperson over the last month. In April they The front intends to remain out- lowed to acquire the apartments as much as EGP 5,000. ciated with the group. The two men for the front, confirmed that the sit- demonstrated outside the New side the presidential palace until after they are living in. The residents submitted propos- are accused of being members of the in would be held outside the presi- Cairo Court in the Fifth Settlement Mohsen and Ali are interrogated on Al-Duweiqa was struck by a rock- als for long-term payment plans, but Black Bloc group. dential palace. He added that it is not in solidarity with detained politi- Monday, said Al-Hagary. slide from the Moqattam hill in 2008, these were turned. al-Jamaa al-islamiya al-sisi: the army does not interfere in political affairs demands removal from Us Commander of the Armed Forces says the way for Egypt to move forward is through the ballot box terror list By Basil El-Dabh Building and Development Party call on US to release The Egyptian military will not take to the streets, said Commander of the spiritual leader and remove parent group from terror list Armed Forces Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi on Saturday. The defence minister said in front of troops and public figures at mili- tary training exercises that the army was not the solution to the current political issues the country faces, and that it would not resort to policing the streets. “No one is going to remove any- one,” Al-Sisi said in regards to the possibility of the military forcefully removing President Mohamed Morsi. The defence minister went on to say the military was not the “solution”

to certain problems. He also stated of the Spokesperson of the Armed Forces the Official from Page Photo that it was better for the country to Minister of Defense and Commander of the Armed Forces Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi said the Egyptian military will not be decide its future through ballot boxes taking to the streets and stressed the importance of con- sensus among civilians in political The defence minister referred to the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood are Al-Sisi has previously distanced the matters. state of the army as “strong and capable”. an invitation to submit to a regime army from demands to return to gov- He also said that if the army an- The Alliance of Revolutionary that has lost its legitimacy complete- ernance. In January he warned that in- swers some people’s call to police the Forces criticised the commander’s ly,” the group said in a statement. tense political differences could lead to

Building and Development Party handout Building and Development streets, then “we would not be able statements, saying his comments The statement also rejected calls “the collapse of the state and threaten Khaled Al-Sharif, spokesman of the Building and Development Party, at the to speak of Egypt progressing for the insinuated that he was in favour of for the army to intervene directly in the future of upcoming generations”. press conference next 30 or 40 years”. holding parliamentary elections de- the political situation. “Revolutionary The army called for national dia- Al-Sisi’s comments came at a time spite the opposition’s right to boycott forces have never bet on an institu- logue in December following Presi- The Building and Development lowing years of armed insurgency when political polarisation continues those elections until there are safe- tion for the liberation of the country dent Morsi’s November constitu- Party, the political wing of Al-Jamaa against the Egyptian government. to mount along with security con- guards insuring they are free and fair. and to achieve the objectives of the tional declaration, but postponed Al-Islamiya, called on the United The group has claimed responsibil- cerns. “Parliamentary elections under the revolution,” it added. the call indefinitely. States government to release its ity for a number of attacks in the spiritual leader Omar Abdel Rah- 1990s. In 2003 the leaders of Al- man from prison and to remove the Jamaa Al-Islamiya renounced vio- group from the Foreign Terrorist lence, which prompted the release lawyers file corruption lawsuit against judges Organisations (FTO) list. of many of the group’s imprisoned In a press conference held on Sun- members. Despite this the group By Luiz Sanchez 2005 parliamentary election. was filed last week to the minister General Tala’at Abdallah to give his day, Khaled Al-Sharif, spokesman for has remained on the FTO list and The lawsuit is being filed by the of justice and the lawyers have yet to testimony and to submit any papers the party, asserted that the Building was also included on a 2005 update A lawsuit has been filed by several law- Al-Akl Al-Arabi Centre for Law and receive a response from the ministry. he may have acquired when he was and Development Party does not of the list of terror yers, including Ragia Omran, against Freedoms and Human Rights and “The importance of this lawsuit is Secretary General of the fact-finding oppose the West. He also demanded organisations. several judges on charges of corrup- other lawyers who have collaborated that it informs whoever is monitor- commission tasked with investigating that the Abdel Rahman be released Abdel Rahman, also known as tion during the 2005 parliamentary on gathering the evidence. ing future elections that fraud and allegations of fraud in 2005. Minis- and that Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya be re- ‘the blind sheikh’, is currently serv- election. According to a document Ahmed Hafez, the executive direc- election rigging are not acceptable,” ter of Justice was also moved from the FTO list. ing a life sentence in the US in con- sent from Shayfeencom, the election tor at Shayfeencom, said the lawsuit Hafez said. called to testify in his previous ca- Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya was placed nection to the 1993 World Trade monitoring group, 22 people, includ- was first filed in 2005 but was sum- According to the statement, the pacity as chairman of the fact-finding on the US FTO list in 1997 fol- Centre bombing in New York. ing judges, stand accused of rigging the marily dismissed. The new lawsuit lawyers have called on Prosecutor committee. Minors arrested near Black and white taxi-drivers march to presidential palace interior Ministry For attempting to bring down makeshift walls erected by ministry

By Rana Muhammad Taha forces, rioting, possession of weap- ons and destroying public property, Nineteen people were arrested in Wagdy explained. the vicinity of the Ministry of Interior, “Most of the detainees denied the on Saturday, for allegedly attempting charges,” he added. “They said they to bring down the walls erected by were randomly arrested near Tahrir the ministry. Square. They claimed to have nothing The Ministry of Interior built walls to do with bringing down the walls.” surrounding starting No- Building walls closing down the vember 2012 to prevent protesters from routes between Tahrir Square and the reaching the ministry’s headquarters. Ministry of Interior is a phenomenon The arrests took place near Al- which has proliferated since 2011. Sheikh Rihan Street, where the min- In November 2011, deadly clashes istry is located; 16 of the detained are on Mohamed Mahmoud Street lasted minors, “their ages not exceeding 16 for five days between protesters and years,” said Lawyer Fady Wagdy. security forces, amid claims they were An investigation was conducted attempting to raid the ministry.

into the 19 detainees at Qasr Al- Clashes stopped when a wall was and Social Rights Economic for Center Egyptian The Nil prosecution on Sunday. They erected to block Mohamed Mahmoud Drivers of the black and white taxi marched from the October War Panorama to the presidential palace to the Ministry of Finance were not met. Demands included the continuation of a government project were accused of attacking security Street’s entrance to Tahrir square. on Sunday demanding to meet President Mohamed Morsi. Their escalation comes after their demands that offered taxi drivers the chance to replace the black and white taxi with newer car models. 4 Daily news egypt MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 www.thedailynewsegypt.com

saudi-yemen clerics slam ‘brutal’ police acts at easter talks focus on AFP - The heads of Jerusalem’s Or- It sparked a diplomatic incident patriarchs and church leaders. Although the church leaders ac- The statement called on the Israeli thodox churches on Sunday spoke with Cairo which promptly sum- “A day of joy and celebration was knowledged the need for police to police and the interior ministry “to security: agency out against the “brutal treatment” moned the Israeli ambassador to turned to great sorrow and pain for keep order among the thousands of seriously consider our complaints, to meted out by Israeli police to both protest, with ’s deputy foreign some of our faithful because they were pilgrims and visitors who flock to the hold responsibility and to condemn AFP - ’s interior minister priests and pilgrims during an ancient minister confirming he had apolo- ill-treated by some Israeli policemen annual ceremony, they accused po- all acts of violence against our faithful on Sunday discussed security coopera- Easter ritual in the Old City. gised. who were present around the gates lice of “indiscriminately and brutally” and the clergy who were ill-treated tion with , home to Al-Qaeda The incident occurred during the “We, the Heads of Churches in of the Old City and passages that lead beating people. by the police.” in the (AQAP), Ye- centuries-old sacred Holy Fire rite Jerusalem, watched with sorrow- to the Holy Sepulchre.” “It is not acceptable that under pre- Among the signatories were men’s official Saba news agency report- which takes place the day before ful hearts the horrific scenes of Footage posted on the Internet text of security and order, our clergy Greek Orthodox Patriarch ed from the neighbouring kingdom. Easter in the Church of the Holy the brutal treatment of our clergy, showed police manhandling a Coptic and people are indiscriminately and Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Prince Mohammed bin Nayef dis- Sepulchre, with police allegedly hit- people, and pilgrims in the Old City priest, with one officer locking the brutally beaten, and prevented from Fuad Twal, as well as the leaders of cussed with Yemeni Foreign Minister ting a priest and several Egyptian of Jerusalem during Holy Saturday,” priest’s head in his arm. Police said entering their churches, monasteries all the other Orthodox churches Abu Bakr al-Qirbi in Saudi Arabia diplomats. said a statement from the Orthodox they had opened an investigation. and convents.” in Jerusalem. “strengthening bilateral security co- operation for preserving security in both countries,” Saba said. They also discussed the impact nine arrested over deadly turkey bombings of new Saudi constraints on foreign workers that have led to the expul- AFP - Turkey on Sunday said it has Turkey, a member of NATO, dis- sion of thousands of citizens of the im- arrested nine people over the twin tanced itself from its erstwhile ally poverished Arabian Peninsula coun- car bombings that left at least 46 soon after Syrian President Bashar try living in the oil-rich Gulf kingdom. people dead in a Turkish town near al-Assad started cracking down on warned this month that illegal the Syrian border, as re- pro-democracy protests in 2011. foreign workers risk being slapped with jected allegations that it was behind Ankara has since become a rear prison sentences and fines after a three- the attack. base for the Syrian rebellion and Da- month grace period expires on July 3. Cranes were seen lifting debris mascus has already been blamed for a Saudi Arabia is resuming a project from buildings destroyed by Sat- string of attacks on Turkish soil. abandoned in 2004 to build a three- urday’s blasts in Reyhanli, a major The attack sowed panic in Rey- metre-high (10-foot) fence the length Turkish hub for Syrian refugees and hanli, a town of about 60,000 people. of its border with Yemen, local media rebels. “I heard the first blast, walked out, reported in April. The attacks were the deadliest thinking it was a missile being fired Al-Qaeda took advantage of the to hit Turkey since the Syria conflict from Syria. Then I found myself on the decline in central government con- began two years ago and apparently ground, my arms and right leg hurting, trol during the upheaval before presi- provoked a backlash against Syrian my ears ringing. It must have been the dent ’s departure to refugees as dozens of cars were second bomb,” said Hikmet Haydut, a seize control of swathes of south and wrecked by rampaging crowds, ac- 46-year-old coffee shop owner who east Yemen during 2011. cording to witnesses. had minor injuries to his head and Despite a counter-offensive by the The Reyhanli blasts have raised body. “I am alive, but all I have is gone.” army last year, backed by US drone fears that Turkey has been drawn into Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto- strikes, the jihadists are still active in the Syrian conflict. glu, on a visit to Berlin, said it was the desert east. Can Dundar, a columnist at Tu r- “not a coincidence” the bombings The militants have withdrawn to key’s Milliyet newspaper, wrote: occurred as international diplomatic mountainous regions in several prov- “Turkey seems to be sinking into efforts to solve the Syrian crisis were inces and although weakened still the Syrian swamp... It has become a Kilic / Bulent AFP Photo intensifying. manage to launch frequent hit-and- stakeholder in this civil war by di- People sift through the debris on May 12, 2013 after a car bomb exploded on May 11 in Reyhanli in Hatay, just a few The and Russia, one run attacks on the security forces. rectly supporting the opposition.” kilometres from the main border crossing into Syria of the few remaining supporters of President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi Deputy Prime Minister Besir Ata- Assad’s regime, pledged this week was quoted this week as warning of lay told a televised news conference people killed in the blasts have been those who carried out recognition formation Minister Omran al-Zohbi to relaunch efforts to solve the “the presence of sleeping Al-Qaeda Sunday that nine people have been identified, of whom 35 were Turkish (efforts), those who placed the ve- told a press conference broadcast by conflict, which the cells in .” held for questioning over the bomb- and three were Syrian. hicles”. state television. estimates has killed 80,000 people Police on Sunday raided a house in ings, saying there have been confes- Officials say dozens more were Syria on Sunday rejected claims “It is (Turkish Prime Minister since March 2011. the southern city of , killing one sions and that the suspects belong to injured in the explosions. that it was behind the attack. Recep Tayyip) Erdogan who should Erdogan, who earlier this month suspected Al-Qaeda militant and ar- “a terrorist organisation in contact Turkey’s Interior Minister “Syria did not commit and would be asked about this act... He and branded Assad a “butcher”, is due to resting three, an official said, adding with Syrian intelligence”. Muammer Guler said: “We have never commit such an act because his party bear direct responsibil- meet US President Barack Obama in that the cell had been plotting to at- Atalay also said that 38 of the 46 identified those who organised it, our values would not allow that,” In- ity,” he added. Washington on Thursday. tack vital installations. eU warns syria crisis press divided on presidential hopefuls AFP - Iran’s media was split on Sunday at ‘breaking point’, over which candidate to back in next month’s presidential election after a key moderate and a powerful govern- boosts aid ment figure entered the fray. The front pages of the reformist AFP - The European Commission In its statement, the commission press were plastered with pictures of announced on Sunday an additional said it was announcing an additional former president Akbar Hashemi Raf- €65m ($84m) in aid for Syrian refu- €65m “in response to the rapidly sanjani, a moderate, while newspapers gees and internally displaced, warn- growing scale of the humanitarian favouring the incumbent president ing the crisis is “already at breaking crisis resulting from the conflict touted government candidate Esfan- point”. in Syria”. diar Rahim Mashaei. The announcement came in a “The additional funding will be The Iranian conservatives, who statement released to coincide spent inside Syria, to assist the more have fielded the most candidates, did with a visit to Syrian refugees in than four million people who have not plump for anyone in particular, by humanitarian aid com- been forced to flee their homes, but warned that “the revolutionary missioner Kristalina Georgieva. and in neighbouring countries that current” faces a dual challenge from “The more atrocities and fight- have generously welcomed some “deviationists,” a term used by ultra- ing go on in Syria, the more peo- 1.4 million refugees.” conservatives for Mashaei, and “sedi- ple run. There are no indications Jordan says it is hosting more tionists,” referring to Rafsanjani who

whatsoever that this... is going to than 500,000 Syrian refugees and enjoyed the backing of the reformist Kenare / Atta AFP Photo go down,” Georgieva told AFP after the UNHCR expects that number movements. Iranian Mehran Aghadari registers his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election at the interior ministry in visiting the Zaatari refugee camp in to soar to 1.2 million by the end Pro-reformist newspapers Etemad on 9 May Jordan’s north. of 2013, equivalent to a fifth of the and Arman published photographs of As temporary home to more kingdom’s population. Rafsanjani registering for the June 14 Khoram, minister of transport under Live Spring), the campaign chant for per said in its editorial that, “one of than 160,000 Syrians, Zaatari is “Unless all those involved in election on the top halves of their Khatami’s government wrote in an Mashaei. the most important messages of the equivalent to the kingdom’s fifth the fighting, as well as the inter- front pages. editorial published by Shargh. Ahmadinejad is constitutionally coming election is that Mashaei and largest city, according to the United national community, find a politi- The oft-banned reformist dailies “There is a consensus among the barred from seeking a third consecu- Hashemi are one pole, the pole of Nations. cal solution to the violence very Shargh and Bahar also dedicated reformists towards Khatami and Raf- tive term. anti-values (of the Islamic revolution) “We have to dig deep into our soon the humanitarian community front pages to Rafsanjani, president sanjani and a healthy portion of con- In 2009 Khamenei had overturned and the principalists are the opposing pockets (to help the Syrians) be- will simply be unable to cope with from 1989 until 1997. Bahar ran the servatives who are concerned about Mashaei’s appointment as first vice pole.” cause the worst is yet to come. the unprecedented scale of the headline: “An epic with Hashemi”. the future of the nation will back Mr president, sparking a rift between the “The record left by Hashemi, The crisis is beyond humanitarian needs -- we are already at break- The reformist Aftab daily suggest- Rafsanjani,” he wrote. president and conservatives loyal to Khatami and Ahmadinejad has shown response. We need to do more and ing point,” Georgieva warned in ed that other moderate and reform- State newspaper Iran, which is by the supreme leader. that the office of the president is too we need to do more in a better the statement. ist candidates who registered for the law forbidden from campaigning for It is not clear whether Mashaei will critical to be left to anyone,” added way,” Georgieva said. According to the Britain- election will forfeit in favour of Raf- any candidate, headlined “all currents be approved by the Guardians Coun- the editor of the daily who is close to The UN humanitarian office based Syrian Observatory for Hu- sanjani. have come forward.” cil, the unelected body controlled by Saeed Jalili, the chief nuclear negotia- said on Tuesday that the number man Rights, 82,257 people have Meanwhile, newspapers that fa- Several newspapers that support religious conservatives appointed by tor who also registered as a candidate of displaced Syrians has risen from been killed in the conflict. vour moderate candidates reported President , Khamenei. without any prior announcement. around two million people to 4.25 Georgieva told AFP that 60 per- an advisory council of reformists met carried a picture of Mashaei, the in- The council is tasked with vetting Jalili did not receive any special at- million. cent of the refugees are under 18. with reformist ex-president Moham- cumbent’s controversial aide and ex- the candidates to ensure they adhere tention in Sunday’s newspapers, but The figures, combined with “That means a whole generation mad Khatami and vowed to back Raf- chief of staff. to constitutional conditions of being some published pictures of him reg- more than 1.4 million who have is at risk of being lost in this con- sanjani. Mashaei has been targeted by hard- faithful to the principles of the Islamic istering his candidacy. fled abroad, mean that more than flict. This requires the international Rafsanjani, 78, currently chairs the liners for the emphasis he places on republic and its official religion, before However, newspapers close to a quarter of Syria’s pre-war popu- community to find ways to help the Expediency Council, the highest polit- Persian civilisation, while they favour announcing the final list of hopefuls no Tehran’s mayor, the conservative Mo- lation of 22.5 million have been youth of Syria,” she said. ical arbitration body, whose members a focus on Islamic values. later than May 23. hammad Baqr Qalibaf, who unsuc- forced to quit their homes since “We need to think of the broader are appointed by the supreme leader, Khorshid (Sun) newspaper ran a The conservative newspapers re- cessfully ran for presidency in 2005, the conflict erupted in March 2011. impact and act... the crisis is beyond Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. front page picture of Mashaei along- sorted mostly to reporting that the ran a picture of him registering, along The overwhelming majority of humanitarian response. We need to “Rafsanjani registering is a historic side Ahmadinejad at the interior registration was over and publishing with his quote on the front page: “I the refugees have fled to neighbour- do more and we need to do more event. The country is currently fac- ministry registration centre, head- around 40 names of known politicians. have come forward for the dignified, ing , Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. in a better way.” ing special circumstances,” Ahmad lining “Zendeh baad Bahar,” (Long Vatan Emrooz, a hardline newspa- Islamic Iran.” MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 Disclaimer: Commentaries published Daily news egypt 5 by Daily News Egypt do not reflect the position of the paper, but opinions of their authors. commentary www.thedailynewsegypt.com penalty spot talking box By Ziad Akl and asked them with a smile, “Guys, Why’s Morsi picking up tips from therefore bound to fail. They’re play- A domino effect in the Gulf is the wouldn’t you rather go and try to Jose Mourinho? They’re both hop- ing a temerarious game plying energy Saudis’ worst nightmare. On my way home last Friday I saw meet a girl?” ing for a second chance: Mourinho to Europe, America and Japan. And a Where does Morsi stand with 5 boys, couldn’t be more than 14. The most depressing part of to Chelsea, Morsi to the palace after lifetime of torpid superannuation to such a wealthy, experienced power- They were running between cars in that story is how the look on all Ramadan. Both need to turn things favoured nationals. broker whose tentacles inveigle the one of Zamalek’s busy streets try- their faces reflected the same round: Mourinho to keep John Terry The Arabs are captives of armed inner recesses of the White House ing to catch a look at women driv- thing: the idea had never crossed and Frank Lampard happy, Morsi to jihadist hotheads and magniloquent and the palaces of Westminster and ing in short skirts or low-cut tops. their mind! woo the crowd to his side. boastful fellow travellers. There’s the Élycée? They regrouped after the raid ended Our society no longer breeds On his left Iran’s Mahmoud Ahma- never been a master plan to rescue We don’t know. Flitting round the next to my car, I opened my window friendship, only perversion. dinejad, as nimble as Nike, the god- the Palestinians or their own dispos- world with his begging bowl, Morsi dess of victory. On his right, taciturn sessed. Avarice is their airy avocation; says hardly anything of substance. Saudi. After his election Morsi was unbridled power their chosen weap- If Egypt keeps siding with Iran and treated to a lavish banquet in Jeddah on of mass dilapidation. PhiliP Whitfield push comes to shove with Obama designed to usher in a new era of They and the West now have to Saudi will blow cool on Morsi. Big oil economic cooperation and the start confront the consequences of gen- ing for AP Ali Akbar Dareini and Bri- pays Saudi’s bills. whatever happened to the of a fresh political dialogue. erations of skulduggery. an Murphy suggest a new president Morsi knows beggars can’t be Nothing came of that. The Saudis Into the mix arrives China: hosting might embark on an international choosers. So far he’s been a lacklus- student movement? are wary of the Muslim Brotherhood; Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and the image makeover and open the door tre fundraiser. He’s tapped out if he cautious the Brothers’ fanaticism Palestinians’ Mahmoud Abbas indi- to less antagonistic relations. can’t get his hands on five to 20 billion There are currently more than three could upset their own applecart. vidually but only hours apart. Meet- With Iran preoccupied rigging US dollars in quick time. million Egyptian students enrolled in It’s tempting to regard each of the ing on Wednesday Prime Minister Li elections, what of Saudi Arabia? No His problem? Playing in the inter- higher education. Before the revolu- countries where revo- Keqiang told Netanyahu Palestine is fear of free elections altering their national Premier League isn’t a five- tion, most of them dreamed of an op- lutions hold sway as individual exis- a core issue affecting the peace and status quo. But there is a groundswell a-side pick-up game where the locals portunity to escape a country that is tences. They’re not. They are fuelled stability of the Middle East. of neo-revolution building among can be shinned. plagued by both corruption and nep- by two axiomatic injustices: The po- A peaceful two-state solution youth, women and closet jihadists. Morsi’s participation in a Saudi- otism. However, most of them were litical iniquity inflicted on Palestinians reached through dialogue and nego- According to Fehim Tastekin the Iran-Egypt trio trying to prevent all- inclined to take a confrontational and the breach of trust felt by the tiations is the only effective answer, Turkish author and politics scientist out war over Syria is a nightmare for stance towards the social problems expanding Middle East citizenry. he said. two factors determine the shade of him. Saudi has relegated him to the they once tried to escape. A wave of Few intrepids fain enter Syria’s le- China straddles a dichotomy. It Saudi Arabia’s reactions to the Arab sidelines. If he sticks close to Iran he’ll unprecedented forms of protesting in thal savagery. Obama passed the ball has growing trade with Israel worth uprisings and its regional policies: Its incur the wrath of the US. modern Egyptian history swept over to Secretary of State to $8bn a year. It relies on oil imports struggle against Iran to build up a Morsi’s in a hapless spot. At home campuses. Strikes, sit-ins, demonstra- team with Russian Foreign Minister from Iran and Arab nations to meet Sunni shield against Shiite influence; the Salafis will drag him down if he tions and even occupy movements tAher el MoAtAZ BellAh Sergei Lavrov. Cosy conspiratorial its energy needs, half of which come rivalry with Qatar and Turkey, the takes his eye off the ball, forced to became a usual sight in both public conclaves concealing conniving car- from the Middle East, a dependency two countries with which it cooper- take an early shower reminiscing and private universities, something imposed on students without being nage. that is expected to deepen. ates to counter the Syria-Iran axis. about what might have been if he that was thought to be as one of the subjected to public voting is still in The Arab side is missing a com- Predictably Israel unleashed the Tastekin says Saudi Arabia fears hadn’t been offside most of the time. undesired outcomes of the revolu- itself a major concern for the stu- manding commander in chief. Not first barrage in the opening fusil- the prospect of the Muslim Broth- The Muslim Brotherhood’s re- tion, an unnecessary new cult that dents who regard this act as blunt in Egypt, Saudi or the Gulf. Turkey lade of the second phase of the Arab erhood backed by Qatar and Turkey ligious intolerance in a largely for- would distract students from their state intervention in student affairs preens on the fence. Iraq sinks in Awakening. The aerial bombardment coming to power in Syria as it did bearing society defines his helotry, a so-called sole purpose in life, studying. regardless of its intentions. squalor. North Africa’s head is in the of Assad’s weapons stores near Da- in Egypt. He surmises Brotherhood slavish dependence on majoritarian- The truth however is that the The most difficult challenge stu- sand. mascus deprives of arma- rule in two key countries of the Mid- ism – the delusion of dictators in a Egyptian student movement has dents will have to face beside the se- With one exception the Gulf is ments at a critical time. dle East could undo the status quo in fool’s paradise. been playing a vital role in national curity apparatus and the gap of trust snoozing this one out. Getting too But it also tests Iran’s mettle. Ah- Jordan swiftly bringing the Brothers’ politics for the last 100 years. At between them and the student body big for its boots, Qatar’s ostentatious madinejad’s maximum two terms Islamic Action Front to power there. Philip Whitfield is a Cairo times of excessive tyranny and bru- is the newly formed class of elitist ambition is motivated by greed and end with elections on 14 June. Writ- It’s obvious who would be next up. commentator tal repression, when social injustices student revolutionaries who have and grievances reached intolerable claimed ownership of the revolution levels while the political arena and and declared impotent marches and so called elites were shattered each chants as a profession that would striving after his very own personal pave the road for their recognition. interest, it was time for students to This group of students interprets the op-ed review: ikhwan-oriented media act. At times like these, students al- slogan “the revolution continues” most always rose to the occasion and as the need to be present on the acted as the glue that consolidated streets at all times without having a and islamists during the revolution different political and social frag- clear strategy on how to transform ments in order to lift injustices off the the chants into actual reforms. The one columnist addresses the authorities’ control of media bodies, He mentions a statement issued wide Egyptian society. Yet the ques- problem with this new class of elite and the other discusses how people deny the role of islamists in the by the Muslim Brotherhood on 23 tion remains, where are the Egyptian activists, who have gained their repu- revolution. January 2011, which condones the students at the moment and why are tation from taking part in the revo- State Security’s summoning of Muslim they so dormant on level lution and engaging in clashes with ‘ikhwanization’ of the national proof is that there are no Muslim Brotherhood leaders in different gov- except for some angry yet repeated the Ministry of Interior afterwards, media Brotherhood members working in ernorates and its attempts to prevent statements on social media, despite is that despite their respectable Yasser Abdel Aziz public media bodies. The columnist them from participating in protests. their unprecedented level of activism tactical experience, they lack long- replies to that by listing the two He comments that the statement inside the walls of the universities? term strategies. Therefore, they have things needed to control the media: was issued during a time when “many The student unions are the only gradually diverted from their initial firstly controlling hiring for top-ti- of those who issued revolutionary elected entities on campus, thus goals to the extent that the means er positions and secondly financing statements were frightened of the they are the official representa- have become a goal by themselves. media bodies. regime’s aggression”. He then men- tives of the student body. They used These students, who are sometimes The columnist claims that while tions that people have forgotten the to be highly politicised until Sadat driven by their affiliation with politi- the Minister of Information controls High Court protest, where many cancelled political committees, dis- cal parties, prefer limited participa- national television, the Shura Council leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood solved the Egyptian student union tion in student protests to ensure controls national newspapers. Ac- by saying “the Egyptian political were present. that is composed of student unions maximum media exposure and avoid cording to the columnist, there are scene is now witnessing a malicious “The Muslim Brotherhood’s resis- from all Egyptian universities and any unnecessary clashes with the au- 28 television channels, nine radio sta- attempt to deliberately distort the tance of the previous regime was for prohibited political activities on thorities, the same authorities they tions, and eight journalistic organisa- events of the revolution”. He finds the love of Egypt and its people, and campus after he was loudly opposed attack day and night on social media tions issuing 55 newspapers. it strange that some people speak out of obedience to God by refusing by leftist students who resented the and with lame statements. He then points to the latest cover of the Brotherhood’s role in the injustice, tyranny and encroachment political reorientation of Egypt to- If the students are to ever regain of Akhbar Al-Adab (Literature News), revolution and say that they were upon God’s laws and the squandering wards the West and regarded pri- their position as a vital player in the na- which features Khairat El-Shater, with “the spark” of it, while others ask: of freedom,” Shalaby writes. vatisation as a prominent threat (his tional political arena in a time marked Al Masry Al Youm a quote: “In keeping with the cultural “Where were the Islamists when we He adds that Islamic political par- financial support and intentional by marginalisation of youth from a Columnist Yasser Abdel Aziz dis- role of businessmen, will Khairat El- were being oppressed and tortured ties have endured years of injustice, revival of the Islamist forces to get highly patriarchal society, they would cusses the penetration of Muslim Shater reclaim Egypt’s cultural soul by the former regime?” oppression, imprisonment, exile and rid of the leftist forces that greatly have to regard themselves as the seed Brotherhood policies and practices with his program Al Gama’a?” He blames them for not asking displacement. “They were denied the opposed his neoliberal policies are of the future Egyptian left. They have into public media bodies. He recalls The columnist comments that it is about the “whereabouts” of Is- simplest rights that were guaranteed outside the scope of this article). to have an applicable long term strat- that many fellow journalists have “a total farce” for a national magazine, lamists during that period: “Were by the constitution and law when Since then, candidates for the stu- egy that builds on past experience complained to him about the issue, financed by the people’s taxes, to be they in five-star hotels or in prisons those who are cosying up to the rev- dent union were prevented from and aims to reform educational insti- admitting that some of their work used to polish the image of Muslim and detention facilities?” He also olution were not yet born or were running for office if they were dis- tutions while focusing on long term has been censored or that they have Brotherhood member Al-Shater. blames them for not asking about kissing up to the previous regime,” covered to be affiliated with the op- benefits. They would also have to re- been instructed to address only cer- He concludes that the Brother- the “real reasons behind the op- Shalaby says. position. Moreover, the success of alise that as much as they are needed tain issues. hood-oriented Minister of Informa- pression of Islamists and their ex- He also mentions that there was the almighty State Security forces in to advocate for reforms on campus, He adds that after he gave an in- tion, Article 206 of the constitution, clusion from specific jobs”. true resistance. He adds that some recruiting student union presidents they are also needed to advocate for terview to a prerecorded television the legally-contested Shura Council He dubs those who attempt to dis- people have made heroes out of the as informants not only ensured the social justice, political freedom and show, some of what he had said was authority over newspapers, and the tort the Islamists’ role in the revolu- remnants of the previous regime. de-politicisation of the universities, economic reforms off campus. This is deleted. He then recalls being pre- controlling of hiring and financing tion as failures “desperately seeking Shalaby adds that he would not put it but it has also managed to destroy because they are the most vocal and vented from participating in another processes in the media guarantee that leadership and popularity after failing past such people to name Mubarak the trust of the students in the sole diversified class in a society of both show, as per the show’s producer’s the media serves the Muslim Brother- to affect the Egyptian street”. and his entourage as the real spark body that is supposed to be repre- educated and uneducated illiterates. instructions. “The Minister of Infor- hood’s agenda. He also mentions those who claim and protectors of the revolution. He senting them. Even though this has Can you hear the students sing? mation contacted me and denied that that the Muslim Brotherhood only then says that Egyptian history will changed after the revolution with I have been barred from the show,” Public failures and the distortion took part in the revolution with the not be distorted because the people the introduction of a new student taher el Moataz Bellah is the Stu- Abdel Aziz says. of history Battle of the Camels on 2 February are aware of events and know what constitution that allows political dent Union President at the Ameri- He mentions that the Muslim Waleed Shalaby 2011. “They forget that the Muslim really happened. “God save Egypt, its activities and supposedly grants can University in Cairo and Vice Brotherhood abhors the term Freedom and Justice Party News- Brotherhood members were seen people and its president from ev- freedom of expression on campus, President of the Egyptian Student “Ikhwanisation,” and they deny any paper and heard by all, and that is only de- ery adversity and hardship,” Shalaby the fact that this constitution was Union for Private Universities. plans to control the media. Their Columnist Waleed Shalaby begins nied by the ungrateful.” concludes.

Published by Business News for Press, and Sales and Marketing Director Distribution under License from the Supreme Editor Chairman Chief Editor Deputy Editor Politics Editor Sara Abou Bakr Art Director Ramy Kamal Council of Journalism Maher Hamoud Daily news Mostafa Sakr Saad Zaghloul Laurence Underhill Arts & Culture Editor Adel Heine Abdel-Azim Saafan 12 Haroon St., Dokki, Cairo, Egypt Rana Allam Circulation Manager egypt Business Editor Ahmed Arafa Tel: +202 37486853 | Fax: +202 37486936 Sally Kandil [email protected] 6 Daily news egypt MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 www.thedailynewsegypt.com Business Qandil: we seek to secure the iMF loan as soon as possible Denies country’s recent s&P creDit DowngraDe will have negative effect on negotiations with iMf

By Mohamed Ayad ment had not requested an increase A source within Egypt’s Finance foreign currency reserves had ris- vestment in the country, and reach regarding the country’s new sales tax in the size of the loan, refusing to Ministry stated that Fayyad Abdel en to $14.4bn, with $1bn recently a state of reconciliation with the law. Both new tax laws, he said, could Prime Minister answer questions as to whether or Moneim, the country’s new Finance acquired through a loan received international business community.” then be released together. stated that negotiations currently not Egypt’s government wanted to Minister, recently reviewed the con- from . He reinforced that the country’s Qandil further stated that there being held with the IMF to secure secure more funds. tent of negotiations between the IMF Qandil denied that the country’s economic reform program bore was nothing to fear regarding the the country’s pending $4.8bn loan An agreement between the two and the Egyptian government. The recent credit downgrade would have costs that “we all must carry to- government’s program to release ad- were ongoing, and said that Egypt’s parties was nearly reached in De- source stated that it was likely that a a negative effect on the government’s gether”. ditional treasury bonds as a means of government sought to conclude a cember 2012, only to be thwarted number of amendments would soon negotiations with the IMF. A source within Egypt’s Finance closing Egypt’s budget deficit, saying deal as fast as possible. after President Mohamed Morsi im- be made to Egypt’s economic re- He said: “We have nothing to Ministry stated that securing the such a program was merely a tempo- IMF officials stated that the largest posed but subsequently froze a new form program, including restructur- hide with regards to our economic loan would most likely be postponed rarily solution until the government obstacle to achieving progress dur- set of taxes on a number of goods ing Egypt’s subsidies, tightening the reform program, and seek to scale until next July due to decreases in a collected more tax revenues. ing the negotiation process had to entering the country. government’s private spending gaps, back the size of our budget deficit number of the country’s economic Amr Darrag, Egypt’s new minister do with Egypt’s budget. Managing Di- Qandil stated during a recent addressing the budget deficit, and in- which is expected to reach EGP indicators, in addition to Egypt’s re- of planning and international coop- rector for the IMF Christine Lagarde press conference that “the IMF has creasing the Treasury’s foreign cur- 200bn by the end of this current cent credit downgrade. This post- eration, stated that he would not reiterated during a recent press con- reviewed the economic and social rency reserves. Such reforms should fiscal year. This deficit has been de- ponement, he said, would provide comment on recent negotiations ference that her organisation sought reform package put forth by Egypt’s allow Egypt to fund its imports for scribed as large and getting worse, the government with ample oppor- between Egypt’s government and the to help the Egyptian people and was government, and we have presented the next 3 months, and ensure that with some claiming that simply scal- tunity to end negotiations regarding IMF. “I have not reviewed the con- not yet prepared to leave the nego- the IMF with the necessary informa- the government operates with trans- ing it back will not help to achieve the country’s budget, implement new tents or minutes of the negotiations tiating table. tion and data requested. There is no parency in all of its transactions. growth. However it should be noted tax and subsidy reforms, present a and I cannot at the moment identify During a recent trip to Turkey, Qa- need for IMF delegations to conduct Egypt’s Central Bank announced that what we need now is to take new sales tax law to Egypt’s Shura or determine when an agreement ndil stated that the Egyptian govern- any further trips to Egypt”. last Wednesday that the country’s steps to encourage increased in- Council, and conclude negotiations will be signed,” he said. Downgrade expected to negatively impact egypt, Qatar participate in gaza reconstruction project pharmaceutical industry: experts Project to rebuild Gaza homes and infrastructure damaged by Israeli airstrikes uses $500m in Qatari investments Negative impact on banks of downgraded S&P rating extends to pharmaceuticals

By Neal Hussein change rate and the time it takes to cre- only have twenty or thirty products ate a letter of credit,” said Randa Mah- and do not have a large enough portfo- The downgrading of Egypt’s sovereign moud, the director of Sales and Mar- lio to balance their losses on one prod- rating, by Moody’s to CAA1 and Stan- keting at Rafichem, an Egyptian trading uct against other more financially viable dard & Poor’s to B-, will ultimately raise office for raw pharmaceutical materials. products,” she said. the cost of pharmaceuticals in Egypt due “Banks are not giving letters of credit Sovereign or credit ratings reflect to the impact of the country’s credit and often when they do, the opportunity agencies’ assessment of a country’s like- score on the financial costs of credit for a business deal is already gone. They lihood of default and its banks use the and foreign currencies, according to a also require a lot of documentation for credit rating to determine their interest number of industry experts. money transfers and won’t cooperate rates for loans to the country. Vice-President of Credit at EFG quickly.” Egyptian banks will also feel the Hermes Mohamed Adel explained that Mahmoud also said that prices for impact of the credit downgrade. The since components of pharmaceuticals imported materials were rising because lowered credit rating raises the cost are imported, their cost is tied to for- of the exchange rate, but the Ministry of foreign capital for them and for the eign currency and the cost of borrowing of Health fixed the prices ten years ago, Egyptian government. The government through letters of credit. “so we cannot pass on any of the price is “very likely to default on its loans, and “These costs all go up as the coun- to the consumers”. most of its bonds and treasury bills have try’s credit rating goes down,” he said. “While this is a problem for all phar- been bought by local banks who will lose “The pharmaceutical industry suffers maceutical companies, it is a major prob- their investment if the government de- from two main problems: the dollar ex- lem for the smaller companies. Some faults”, said Adel. He added that some banks divested

from treasury bills after the revolution AFP Photo and have instead allocated money into A child drags his bicycle through wreckage in Gaza following the Israeli airstrikes of November 2012. Egypt and Qa- corporations and retail outlets, but tar will take part in a project to reconstruct 70,000 homes and infrastructure damaged by the strikes that all banks are directly or indirectly Markets No. Volume Value(LE) Trades affected by the downgrade because of By Lamia Nabil day attended by Minister of Foreign further discuss the project. the devaluation of the pound and risk Trade Listedand Industry Hatem167 Saleh62,429,821 The312,621,121 meetings will discuss14,141 the of default. Egypt and Qatar will take part and Minister of Housing and Urban participation of Egyptian compa- In addition to banking and pharma- in a project to reconstruct Gaza CommunitiesStocks Tariq Tawfiq.164 62,345,951nies according228,090,917 to the current14,138 pro- ceutical companies, the biggest impact homes and infrastructure dam- “QatarPDBonds has allocated3 $500m to83,870 tocol between84,530,204 the three countries.3 of the credit rating is that it will in- aged by Israeli airstrikes in No- buy building materials from Egypt, “The reconstruction process in- crease the cost for vital imports, mainly vember 2012. as wellBonds as participating in0 the recon- 0 cludes 70,0000 housing units0 as well wheat and energy. “Energy is the big- The project was announced dur- structionNilex process itself,”9 said Walid180,241 as infrastructure492,380 projects,”79 he said.

AFP Photo gest issue right now because Egypt ing a press conference organised Gamal, the head of ECBRM. Egyptian companies are invited The downgrading of Egypt’s sovereign rating by Moody’s to CAA1 and Stan- must buy it at international prices and by the Export Council for Building He addedOTC that a series8 of meet70,015- to participate1,806,778 in the exhibition26 dard & Poor’s to B- will ultimately raise the cost of pharmaceuticals in the most other costs are based in part on Materials, Refractory and Metal- ings wouldDeals take place in8 Sharm Al-70,015which will1,806,778 be held alongside26 the country, say experts it,” Mohamed said. lurgy Industries (ECBRM) on Sun- Sheikh from 7 to 10 October to Gaza Reconstruction Conference. Orders 0 0 0 0 Total 184 62,680,077 314,920,279 14,246 Daily EGX30 index performance Total Market Cap 365,980,623,294

Company Last Close Returns Daily Performance Turn Over Volume Market Cap. Market indices performance Sector Name Code Price Price Daily YTD 12-Mths. Max. Price Min. Price (EGP Mill.) Trade (EGP Mill.) Index Value Daily Ch. YTD Ch. Commercial Bank COMI Banks 33.7 33.71 1.14% -2.49% 29.36% 33.89 33.32 21.84 647,957 20,003.41 EGX 30 5,446.68 0.78% -0.29% NSGB NSGB Banks 28.20 28.24 -1.02% -19.80% -5.11% 28.25 28.20 0.548 19,406 12,654.08 EGX 70 455.51 -0.11% -4.52% Ezz Steel ESRS Basic Resources 9.72 9.78 1.56% -1.51% 35.46% 9.94 9.55 16.47 1,683,971 5,231.64 ELSWEDY ELECTRIC SWDY Industrial Goods and Services and Automobiles 20.88 20.37 1.70% -11.09% -13.21% 20.90 20.10 0.447 21,938 4,475.06 EGX 100 766.37 0.35% -4.25% Markets No. Volume Value(LE) Trades MRRIDIVE MOIL Industrial Goods and Services and Automobiles 1.1 1.11 0.00% -4.31% -10.48% 1.11 1.10 0.27 34,775 397.82 EGX 20 Capped 6,218.34 0.24% -1.95% AIC Contracting AIND Financial Services excluding Banks 0.47 0.47 0.00% 0.00% -16.07% 0.48 0.46 1.053 2,242,389 251.27 Listed 167 62,429,821 312,621,121 14,141 Stocks 164 62,345,951 228,090,917 14,138 Amer Group Holding AMER Financial Services excluding Banks 0.58 0.58 0.00% -9.38% -15.94% 0.58 0.58 1.23 2,113,835 1,763.02 Market Brief PDBonds 3 83,870 84,530,204 3 EK Holding EKHO Financial Services excluding Banks 1.15 1.16 -0.85% -9.38% 6.42% 1.17 1.15 3.535 438,726 981.97 Volume Value No. of MarketsDirectionBonds No.No.0 Volume0 Value(LE)0 Trades0 EFG-Hermes HRHO Financial Services excluding Banks 9.67 9.77 -1.91% -11.26% -26.71% 9.90 9.66 23.70 2,425,310 4,763.82 Nilex 9 (000's)180,241 (LE492,380 000's) Trades79 Pioneers Holding PIOH Financial Services excluding Banks 4.11 4.17 -0.48% -14.20% 1.21% 4.23 4.11 1.531 367,078 2,095.00 Listed 167 62,429,821 312,621,121 14,141 OTC 8 70,015 1,806,778 26 Citadel Capital CCAP Financial Services excluding Banks 3.57 3.61 -0.28% -4.50% 9.73% 3.66 3.57 6.66 1,844,074 2,366.46 Listed stocks 164 62,346 228,091 14,138 StocksDeals 1648 62,345,95170,015 228,090,9171,806,778 14,13826 Raya Holding RAYA Technology 5.54 5.52 1.47% -2.47% 2.03% 5.60 5.39 0.892 161,425 349.38 Orders 0 0 0 0 GainersPDBonds 593 83,8709,333 84,530,204109,026 5,7173 Telecom Egypt ETEL Telecommunications 13.42 13.32 0.83% -5.87% 3.98% 13.50 13.17 6.59 494,433 22,550.42 Total 184 62,680,077 314,920,279 14,246 Orascom Telecom Media And Technology OTMT Telecommunications 0.50 0.50 0.00% -9.09% 30.40% 0.51 0.49 7.879 15,756,940 2,622.85 TotalBonds Market Cap 0 0 365,980,623,2940 0 Decliners 75 30,858 103,230 7,179 Orascom Telecom ORTE Telecommunications 4.68 4.69 0.21% 18.14% 40.84% 4.69 4.67 3.77 804,131 24,549.83 Nilex 9 180,241 492,380 79 Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals SKPC Chemicals 12.61 12.59 0.40% -4.98% -0.40% 12.64 12.52 1.659 131,714 6,583.50 Egyptian Financial and Industrial EFIC Chemicals 9.3 9.40 1.84% -5.24% -13.44% 9.52 9.18 4.13 439,248 639.65 UnchangedOTCIndex 308 Value70,01522,155 Daily1,806,77815,835 Ch. YTD1,24226 Ch. AMOC AMOC Oil and Gas 68.50 68.49 -0.10% -6.42% -20.49% 69.00 68.35 0.678 9,906 5,903.02 DealsEGX 30 8 5,446.6870,015 1,806,7780.78% -0.29%26 Juhayna Food Industries JUFO Food and Beverage 9.24 9.24 1.65% 20.16% 110.00% 9.30 9.08 1.88 202,939 6,418.03 EGX 70 455.51 -0.11% -4.52% OrdersEGX 100 0 766.370 0.35%0 -4.25%0 Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) OCIC Construction and Materials 247.00 245.30 2.08% -2.80% -10.29% 247.99 241.98 15.379 62,692 50,205.81 EGX 20 Capped 6,218.34 0.24% -1.95% Delta Construction & Rebuilding DCRC Construction and Materials 5.94 5.99 -0.50% -4.01% 5.83% 6.08 5.94 0.24 40,215 139.10 Total 184 62,680,077 314,920,279 14,246 Modern Co. For Water Proofing WATP Construction and Materials 1.74 1.76 -0.56% -1.68% -39.73% 1.77 1.74 2.092 1,190,799 180.54 365,980,623,294 Total Market Cap Volume Value No. of Palm Hills PHDC Real Estate 2.23 2.25 -0.88% -7.79% 13.64% 2.28 2.23 24.10 10,707,570 2,379.69 Direction No. (000's) (LE 000's) Trades TMG Holding TMGH Real Estate 4.10 4.11 0.00% -7.22% -5.95% 4.14 4.07 2.842 691,655 8,481.24 Listed stocks 164 62,346 228,091 14,138 National Real Estate Bank NRPD Real Estate 17.29 17.42 -0.85% -12.64% -13.12% 17.63 17.27 0.55 31,691 68.57 Index Value Daily Ch. YTD Ch. Six of October OCDI Real Estate 20.49 20.62 -0.05% 1.43% 14.81% 20.90 20.47 1.971 95,590 1,870.65 Gainers 59 9,333 109,026 5,717 El Kahera Housing & Development ELKA Real Estate 6.41 6.43 1.58% -2.13% 41.01% 6.54 6.26 4.89 761,250 593.44 EGX 30 5,446.68 0.78% -0.29% Decliners 75 30,858 103,230 7,179 Arab Cotton Ginning ACGC Personal and Household Products 3.63 3.64 -0.55% -17.27% 32.36% 3.68 3.59 4.625 1,271,775 969.23 EGX 70 455.51 -0.11% -4.52% Oriental Weavers ORWE Personal and Household Products 21.5 21.44 0.37% -7.98% 16.06% 21.50 21.35 0.11 5,213 1,922.40 Unchanged 30 22,155 15,835 1,242 EGX 100 766.37 0.35% -4.25% Egyptian Tourism Resorts EGTS Travel & Leisure 0.95 0.96 -2.04% -8.57% -15.79% 0.97 0.94 1.126 1,174,764 1,029.00 EGX 20 Capped 6,218.34 0.24% -1.95%

Volume Value No. of Direction No. (000's) (LE 000's) Trades Listed stocks 164 62,346 228,091 14,138

Gainers 59 9,333 109,026 5,717

Decliners 75 30,858 103,230 7,179

Unchanged 30 22,155 15,835 1,242 MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 Daily news egypt 7 Business www.thedailynewsegypt.com accounting error Central Bank receives $3bn Qatari in budget deposit for bonds Bonds to mature in three years with 3.5% interest rate Grave mistake made with reGards Continued from page 1

to eGypt’s public budGet, economic Both countries have since been in negotiations over the maturity committee demands those period and interest rates for the bonds, with Qatar initially asking responsible be held accountable for 18 months and 5%, respectively, according to reports. By Ibrahim Al-Masri be attributed to either ignorance or “The terms of these bonds must be malicious intent. revealed to the public,” said econo- Mohamed Al-Khouli, member of the He emphasised the need to hold mist Rashad Abdo. “Of course there Shura Council’s Economic Commit- those responsible accountable for will be an effect on the economic tee, demanded that those respon- their mistake, pointing out that the problems as the foreign currency re- sible for a recent accounting error country’s budget was already sup- serve will increase and the ‘revolution made with regards to Egypt’s pub- posed to have been reviewed more of the hungry’ will be delayed.” lic budget be held responsible. He than once by a number of legal ex- Egyptian officials are trying to “im- stated in a recent press conference perts and specialists. prove their image in front of the IMF that a committee, led by Al-Khouli The error had to do with data and their ability to pay other debts, and composed of members of the regarding Egypt’s total tax revenues, and to beef up foreign currency re- Al-Tayar Al-Masry Party, had re- which were estimated by a series of serves to become eligible for the cently undergone a careful review of legal experts to total EGP 120.452bn. loan”, Abdo said, but “it won’t solve

the country’s public budget, and de- However Al-Khouli stated that after the general economic problems as Photo AFP File termined that a grave financial error careful review these numbers were there is always a lack of visibility with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani speaks during a joint press had been committed that could only in fact only EGP 114.452 bn. this government”. conference with Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Qandil in Doha on 10 April

expert: Downgrade timing casts doubt over iMF negotiations Housing minister: Egypt’s Petrified Forest Reserve to become tourism New credit rating one level above Cyprus and below Greece and and environmental site The timing of Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Egypt’s currency in March, dropping decision on Thursday to downgrade it from B3 to CAA1, under claims that Guardianship agency will be hired to protect 1,300 acre- Egypt’s long term sovereign credit rat- the Egyptian government had not pur- ing to CCC + just days after Egypt’s sued sound policies. reserve and guard it from property infringements recent cabinet re-shuffle cast doubts Bloomberg further attributed the on the new government’s ability to downgrade to the failure of Egypt’s By Mohamed Darwish would soon hire a guardianship successfully complete negotiations government over the last two years agency to protect the reserve with the International Monetary Fund to successfully engage in negotiations Minister of Housing and Urban from property infringements. The (IMF) over the pending $4.8bn loan, said with the IMF and meet the institu- Communities Tariq Wafiq and Min- company will be tasked with pro- President of the Research Division for tion’s financial conditions. ister of State for Environmental Af- tecting the forest in addition to the Pharos Holding Hani Genena. Trevor Cullinan and Dima Gardani, fairs Khaled Fahmy recently visited Wadi Al-Rayan region, adding that The downgrade, he said, was evi- economic analysts for S&P, stated that Egypt’s Petrified Forest Reserve, the ministry would create its own dence that international agencies had the recent decision to downgrade located in New Cairo, on Saturday prosecution unit to apprehend and lost confidence in the ability of Egyptian Egypt’s credit reflected the company’s to review new plans for develop- legally pursue those who infringe

officials to enact the serious economic AFP Photo belief that the government needed to ment and ways to end infringe- upon forest territory. reforms needed to secure the loan. President of the Research Division for Pharos Holding Hani Genena said take more concrete steps to put in ments committed against forest Egypt’s previous government often that the timing of S&P’s recent downgrading of long term sovereign credit place a sustainable plan for the medi- property. These infringements in- A protocol was re- reiterated the need to raise Egypt’s rating to CCC + casts doubt over IMF negotiations. Egypt’s credit rating has um-term to address Egypt’s financial clude dumping waste and stealing cently signed aimed foreign currency reserves to $19bn in so far been downgraded three times this year, placing increased signifi- funding issues. building materials in the reserve. at employing the order to obtain the IMF loan. cance on the country’s acceptance of the IMF loan The organisation further stated Wafiq added that the forest’s efforts of both min- Fakhri Al-Fekki, assistant to the that they expected Egypt’s deficit to territory was located on 1,300 istries in order to former Executive Director of the to concerns over the lack of political second lowest rating, at a time when make up 11% of the country’s GDP acres of land, and would soon be end border disputes IMF, stated that the reasons behind compromise throughout the country. the country is witnessing increased from 2012-2016. This came shortly converted into a scientific, envi- the downgrade can be attributed The government’s failure to imple- amounts of financial pressure. after Al-Morsi Hegazy, Egypt’s pre- ronmental, and tourist reserve. He regarding the forest to the perpetual state of risk within ment the kind of reform needed to Bloomberg added that the coun- vious finance minister, stated last added that a protocol was recently and New Cairo Egypt’s economic and political cli- secure the country’s pending IMF loan try’s long-term sovereign credit rat- month that the country’s budget signed aimed at employing the ef- mate. Examples of the risky climate, is also a problem, he said. ing was one step above that of Cyprus deficit could increase from 11% to forts of both ministries in order He went on to say that a geologi- he said, included the government’s Egypt’s prospects for securing the but was lower than that of Greece 11.7% by the end of the fiscal year to help end all border disputes re- cal garden would be constructed in failure to remove the prosecutor loan were getting weaker, he added, and Pakistan. ending in June as a result of the gov- garding the forest and the city of the heart of the forest, in addition general, to draft a new elections law, not only due to the country’s recent Egypt’s credit rating has so far been ernment’s failure to institute serious New Cairo. to a taskforce charged with seek- to remove Prime Minister Hesham credit downgrade, but also as a result downgraded three times this year, financial reform. He added that a set of terms ing and identifying excavation sites Qandil, and to escape Muslim Broth- of the obstruction of a pending $3bn placing increased significance on the Officials from S&P stated that they and conditions would be imposed that could be exploited to help erhood control. loan from Qatar. country’s acceptance of the IMF loan, expected pressure on the Egyptian by both agencies on all private con- establish a museum. The museum Representatives from S&P attrib- Bloomberg stated that Egypt’s cur- a fact which has widened the coun- government to increase with regards to sulting agencies seeking to work would hold samples of fossilised uted the downgrade to their fear rent credit rating was seven levels be- try’s budget deficit and weakened the obtaining further grants and loans from and operate within the forest, say- wood found throughout the forest, that Egypt’s government was unable low the standard needed to successfully value of Egypt’s currency. international institutions. In this respect, ing that it was important that Egyp- estimated to be among the world’s to reign in the country’s budget deficit secure investment by S&P standards. Moody’s rating agency also down- securing the IMF loan, they said, could tians reap the maximum benefit of oldest. Both ministries will seek and balance its payments, in addition Egypt currently holds the agency’s graded the sovereign debt value of now be considered a long-term goal. such a great natural reserve “given the aid of a number of research to them by God”. departments in universities located Fahmy stated that the Ministry throughout New Cairo to help in Banks: we are most affected by downgrades of State for Environmental Affairs this endeavour. MERIS downgrades long- and short-term credit ratings of NBE, , and CIB

By Nasser Youssef the country’s repeated credit down- Egyptian banks have already faced The MERIS president went on to grades since the outbreak of the 25 a number of difficulties in obtaining say that although S&P’s recent down- Daily news A number of banks have stated that January Revolution, seeing as they are additional letters of credit and funding grade of Egypt’s long-term sovereign egypt they consider themselves Egypt’s the primary owners of government from foreign banks as a result of such credit rating from B- to CCC+ would most affected economic sector by debt securities. downgrades, with many European, make it increasingly difficult for the As a valued DNE newspaper reader, please Arab and African banks requesting country’s government to obtain in- that all letters of credit held by Egyp- ternational funding, this would not e-mail our circulation manager to activate tian banks be verified by third parties. have an effect on the government’s Amr Hassanein, president of the negotiations with the International your subscription Middle East Rating and Investors Ser- Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the vice (MERIS), stated that Standard & country’s pending $4.8bn loan. Such Poor’s (S&P) will also soon down- negotiations began long ago, he stated, [email protected] grade the credit rating of individual with the IMF throughout the process banks operating on the Egyptian mar- being well aware of the potential for ket, just days after downgrading the repeated downgrades of Egypt’s cred- Subscription Period: Discount: Final Price: = per copy: country’s credit rating itself. it rating. Such downgrades, he said, will in- He also pointed to the need for 1 to 25 daily copies: crease the cost of transactions be- reconciliation to take place between Six Months: 12% LE 458 LE 3.52 tween Egyptian and foreign banks. the country’s various political factions, Hassanein said that MERIS had saying that the country’s current cri- Twelve Months: 14% LE 898 LE 3.44 recently downgraded the short- and sis has made it difficult for investors 26 to 100 daily copies: long-term credit rating of the Nation- to operate easily within the country. al Bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque Misr, Such reconciliation, he claimed, would Six Months: 20% LE 422 LE 3.20 and Commercial International Bank go far in helping the government im- Twelve Months: 25% LE 792 LE 3.00 (CIB), adding that the future of these plement its much needed economic 101 and more daily copies: DNE Photo banks “does not look good”. Such reform programme. The Middle East Rating and Investors Service has recently downgraded downgrades, whether on the country Hassanein highlighted the impor- Six Months: 30% LE 369 LE 2.80 the short- and long-term credit rating of Banque Misr, the National Bank of or individual bank level, would even- tance of speeding up negotiations 40% LE 633 LE 2.40 Egypt, and Commercial International Bank, adding that the future of these tually cause food prices to increase, with the IMF to expedite Egypt’s se- Twelve Months: banks “does not look good” he added. curing of the $4.8bn loan. 8 Daily news egypt MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 lifestyle events Kempinski soma Bay executive Music Cairo, a city of runners chef shares signature dish recipe Omar Khairat The second concert of Omar Khairat’s trilogy in the Cairo Opera House is set to wow crowds with the exquisite tunes of the great Egyptian musician. Cairo Opera House Grand Hall Borg El Gezira Street Zamalek, Cairo Tel: (02) 2739 0144 13 May 8pm Kempinski

Sedat Bugday The Telephone Opera and Les

Miserables El-BehairyNouran The American University in Runners race along the route of Cairo’s first half marathon Cairo is hosting an operatic

night of a unique nature, where By Nouran El-Behairy tersections and distributed water and In second place came Madhu Jena two operas will be sung, one energy bars to participants. from India. “It was amazing, I used to after another. In addition, Les Men and women of all ages donned “We also help in case someone run in Maadi but this had much more Miserables will be sung in Egyp- their jogging shorts and running is injured or tired or anything goes space and it was very well organised,” shoes, carrying bottles of water as wrong,” Hamdy said. she said. tian . some of them stretched and warmed There were multiple water sta- She added that she participated in a AUC New Cairo up on Friday morning; these runners tions along the route where members 100km run as well as a full marathon Road 90 and sports enthusiasts were on their of Cairo Runners distributed cups of in Salzburg five days ago; she also took Fifth Settlement, Cairo way to participate in Cairo’s first-ever water and cheered the runners on to part in marathons in Luxor and Dubai.

Tel: (02) 2615 1000 half marathon. help them keep going. “The weather was too hot, but Kempinski The half marathon was the idea of The short-route runners arrived at there were a lot of people cheering The chef also shares his tips on how to present the sea bass to its best 13 May 8pm the group Cairo Runners, a group that the finish point around 7.30am, where us and giving us water along the way,” advantage organised runs and jogs in different they were met by more cups of water, said Sofie from Denmark who came Ahmed Harfoush areas in Cairo. The sports club had juice and yoghurt. in at third place. Sedat Bugday joined Kempinski Ho- • 20 gr butter Put on your dancing shoes and been helping participants prepare for “It was a thrilling experience, I had Runners continued to pour into tel Soma Bay as executive chef. A • 10 gr black butter the half marathon since late last year. fun, exercised and met many people I the finish. “I’m 58 years old and I start- Turkish national, he studied at the • 100 ml balsamic vinegar enjoy a night of jazz and modern “The founder, Ibrahim Safwat, was know,” said Waleed Sherif, one of the ed running five years ago; I salute them Educational Institute of AH&MA. tunes with Ahmed Harfoush at inspired by the French who frequently participants in the short run. for the perfect organisation,” said Al- Prior the Kempinski, Sedat was the Preparation of sea bass: Pub 55. ran in the streets and decided to imple- “I look for interesting things to do Mahdy Ahmed, one of the runners. executive chef at Cratos Premium • Centre cut fish fillet. Pub 55 ment the idea in Egypt,” said Mohamed in Cairo and when I heard the money Following the run, participants Hotel in Cyprus and Rotana hotels • Marinate fish fillet with olive oil, 55 Road 9 Seif, Cairo Runners’ media manager. would go to charity I wanted to take made their way to the garden where in Dubai and Erbil. thyme, salt and peppercorns. He added that during 14 runs all part… It was a very nice experience,” a number of booths were set up, as Moreover he was part of the • Sear fish fillet and cook until 50% Maadi, Cairo around Cairo no major harassment said Claudia from Italy. organisers prepared to announce the opening team of Mardan Palace Lux- done. Tel: (02) 2358 3186 incidents occurred. “Whenever any- Shortly after 7.30am people gath- winners; most booths were for char- ury Resort in Antalya and worked • Gratin and cook sea bass fillet 13 May 9pm thing happened we were on the spot; ered around the finish line to wait for ity organisations. in several Hilton hotels around with breadcrumbs, olive and but- people on the streets either encour- the half marathon racers. The first One booth for “Wataneya” at- the world for seven years. Bugday ter in the oven at 180C. aged us or made fun of us until we three men and women to arrive at the tracted particular attention. “It’s an worked for more than six years for • Blanch asparagus and toss in but- Exhibition explained the idea, then they were finish would receive vouchers from organisation for developing orphan- Starwood hotels as well as the Sher- ter. supportive,” Seif said. an online shopping website worth up ages and teaching people how to aton Miramar El Gouna in Egypt and • Slice sweet potato and grill. Hybrid More than 2,000 participants gath- to EGP 1,500 and running shoes or act and what to do when visiting gained much experience in Middle • Boil and reduce veal sauce to half Artist Shaimaa Sobhy mixes ered in Almaza, Heliopolis at 6am on vouchers from Nike. orphans,” said Yasmine Al-Hagary, a East and Africa. quantity. humans with animals to create Friday, to run one of two routes for The first to arrive was Hassan Mar- member of Wataneya. To celebrate his new position • Boil balsamic until 80% reduced. the runners: a short 7km route, or zouk, finishing the 21.7km in one hour She added that they joined Cairo chef Bugday shares the recipe of his some innovative creatures in her the half marathon route which was and 12 minutes. Runners because they defied the signature dish: Serving: new collection at Gallery Misr. 21.7km long. “I came here to help encourage tour- norms of the society that does not • Light charcoal and put in a small Gallery Misr At 6.30am runners embarked on ism,” Marzouk said. “I’m a professional encourage running on the streets, Fresh Sea bass from the Red Sea dish, add wood and herbs. 4 A Ibn Zenki Street routes that took them through differ- runner since 1995 and I was just in a comparing this to how Wataneya topped with olive crust • Place small dish in glass to pro- Ingredients: Zamalek,Cairo ent areas in Heliopolis like Orouba, marathon in in mid-April.” also challenges norms of mistreating duce smoke. Thawra and Nozha, and then returning The second and third to arrive, orphans. • 200 gram sea bass fillet • Place fish on top of sweet potato, Tel: (02) 2735 0604 back to the start/finish line at Almaza. Sayed and Yehia, were both also pro- The celebration began at about • 50 ml olive oil put glass with smoke on the fish 13 May 11am Runners raced through the streets fessionals. 10am and was hosted by Nile FM ra- • 200 ml veal sauce and keep it like this until being led by cyclers. “We are from a group At about 8am Hadeel Magdy ar- dio presenter Mohamed Safi. Former • 120 gr fresh asparagus served. Fashion Reincarnated called ‘Wheelers’ and we’re here to rived at the finish line; she’s a half member of parliament and owner of • 100 gr sweet potato • Draw a line with balsamic reduc- support the runners,” said Ahmed marathon Egyptian champion who Al-Sawy Cultural Wheel Mohamed Al- • 10 gr mushroom tion on a plate. Fashion designers use an array Hamdy, who cycled next to the run- has been running for four years. Sawy delivered the cup to the winner. • 5 gr salt • Add the asparagus, cherry tomato of materials to recycle them ners taking photos of them. “I enjoyed this run, it was very “Sports in Egypt started today, this • 3 gr black pepper and mushroom with sauce. as apparel. The exhibition is in He added that a group of them exhausting but very nice and it feels is what sports should be like, beauti- • 3 gr fresh thyme • Add foam with truffle oil on mush- cooperation with the Embassy of cycled ahead of the runners to show great to be the winner of Cairo Run- ful morale and public participation,” • 20 gr breadcrumbs room and sauce. Sweden. them the route, stopping cars at in- ners,” Magdy said. Al-Sawy said. Darb 1718 Kasr El Shama’ Street Old Cairo, Cairo Bite Me Cairo: and so it goes Tel: 012 7941 1698 By David Blanks now the students will also have easy Some places which showed early trying to make it into a literary café, 13 May 10am access to Hardees, KFC, Tikka, Pizza promise last year have gone out of an arts centre, a film club, a place As the first year anniversary of my Bite Hut and God only knows what other business like Top Dawgs and the for cooking lessons, and a proper Covering One’s Back Me Cairo column draws near, I have horrors. Enough, really. Snug, either because people did not restaurant for grownups with beer The exhibition features a collec- been reflecting on the fate of the peo- The general lack of quality in the get the concept or because they and wine. Any time a restaurant goes tion of photographs from pho- ple, places and dining trends that I have cafés that are sprouting all over the had licensing issues. Au Petit Bis- through that many changes in that been writing about over the past year. city is symptomatic of the same tro in Mohandessin experienced a space of time, you know they don’t tographers from Switzerland and Some things I got dead wrong. There problem: customers do not want to steady decline in quality that led to know what they are doing. The food the Arab World. are, to date, no food trucks in Cairo, try anything new, and business own- its demise. And City Stars witnessed was mediocre-to-bad and the ser- Gezira Art Centre which is a shame. Sadly, the business- ers are happy to stick to the same a series of closings; the ill-conceived vice abominable. 1 El Masrafy Street men I have spoken to who explored old formula. Hence Trio, a promising Nordsee fish chain sunk, Wagamama Finally, after firing the first in- Zamalek, Cairo this promising option found that the slow food restaurant with a talented went up in flames, and On The Bor- ternational chef and failing to find

problem, as usual, was the government: American chef and a local, earth- der slunk back across it. Badawi Nada another one, the owners had the Tel: (02) 2737 3298 they could not get permits to park the friendly ethos, has been replaced Other places have waxed and Foodist at work good sense to hire local consul- 13 May 10am trucks in the places where they would by yet another run-of-the-mill café, waned. Consistency is always the tants Sarah Khanna and Wessam do the most good. Typical bureaucratic 3enab. From the looks of it, and given issue, and while some restaurants salads section again; the manage- Massoud to come in and fix the shortsightedness. what we all know about the market have reached new heights, oth- ment is training and overseeing the problems, which they did by cutting I wish I had been wrong about the here, it seems they made the right ers continue to fight the downhill staff; and customers have returned. out all the silliness and getting back seemingly limitless expansion of ca- decision. Dreary. slide into mediocrity. Oddly, two of I really enjoy this place and that to basics, things that should have fés and fast food outlets. Just last There are some exceptions, such these are owned and managed by is something I honestly thought I been done before ever opening in Weather week signs went up for yet another as the very nicely done Wel3a Café, the same people. A year ago I com- would never find myself saying. the first place. They completed their Monday, 13 May mega fast-food court, this one on which has just opened a new branch plained bitterly about the lackadai- On the other side, the eternally mission successfully. But now the Road 90, just outside the American on 33 Abul Feda in Zamalek. The rea- sical service and tortured cooking plagued Left Bank, a place I want so restaurant is back to running itself Alexandria 26°C / 18°C University in Cairo (AUC) and the son they are so good is that they at Sequoia, only to find myself now desperately to love, continues to and is slowly failing to maintain the Aswan 38°C / 24°C Future University in Egypt (FUE). do one thing really well: shisha. The going back again and again. The new struggle. Having opened in January reforms and standards. According to Cairo 34°C / 18°C Food on these campuses is already problem with most of the rest of the design by Eklego is warm, hip and 2012, there were problems from my own experiences, and the many bad enough, mostly consisting of cafés is that they serve a mediocre inviting; Mori Sushi is putting out an the start because the chef, who was comments I have heard from other Hurghada 36°C / 22°C chains such as Beirut Express, TBS, product and try to be all things to excellent product with one waiter hired to do one thing (pastries), was customers, entropy is winning out, Luxor 38°C / 23°C Subway and McDonald’s at AUC and, all people with almost no thought specifically trained to handle these then asked to do another (every- and Left Bank is slowly but surely Sharm El-Sheikh 36°C / 22°C at FUE, places like Arabiata, Candy for the food or service, which works orders, which he does in a cheery thing else). The problem is that the sliding back into chaos. It’s a shame. Mix and Choco Bar. Good thing they because people will flock there any- and professional manner; someone management never figured out what And the reason is simple. No one is Suez 31°C / 13°C have a School of Dentistry. Anyway, way, regardless of how bad it is. has found the rhythm in the grill and to do with this place, at various times minding the store.