12 February 5, 2017 News & Analysis The Arab world

Interview : The Arabs will never say ‘Yes, sir’ to Turkey or Iran

Mahmud el-Shafey you see what happened thereafter. So, I hope, I trust, that this tense situation will not continue for long. “I agree with you, of course it is a tense situation. Of course, relations are not what they should be among ormer Arab countries.” secretary-general Moussa said the region has com- Amr Moussa pletely changed and that change remains a busy requires Arab countries to work man. A veteran of together to build a more stable Middle East politics future. — he was Egyptian “With the developments that Foreign minister are taking place we have to discuss Ffrom 1991-2001 — Moussa is the future regional arrangement, keeping a weather eye on the particularly following the advent national, regional and interna- of two regional powers — Iran and tional situation, including Turkey — which are after all from attending the World Economic the region but are not Arab,” he Forum in January in Switzer- said. land. “So, I believe that the solution Moussa, speaking at his office in to the Syrian issue and with it the Cairo one day after the anniversary Iraqi issue and with it the Kurd- of the January 25th, 2011, Egyptian ish issue and with it the Iranian revolution, addressed many of the ambitions and [safeguarding] Arab unprecedented challenges the Mid- rights is for all of this to be dealt dle East is facing. with in one pot. We must all sit and “Yes, it was a real revolution and talk about the future of the region. as a reaction to bad governance but And this is the constructive thing I it was also hijacked very quickly am calling everybody to do.” and it didn’t last long,” Moussa told Moussa warned that, unless it The Arab Weekly. “Still, the effect worked together to put forward a is deep. The change has started. clear vision for the future of the will never go back to how it region, the Arab world could see was before and I believe the reac- the United States and Russia try to tion will take a long time but there impose a vision that would lead to will be a new Egypt at the end of disaster. the road. “Should they [Moscow and “Of course, it could be better but Washington] commission Iran and this is the beginning.” Turkey to take care of the region? Former Arab League secretary-general Amr Moussa during an interview in Cairo, on March 11th, 2014. Six years after the revolution, They can’t. They just can’t,” Mous- (Reuters) Egypt finds itself confronted with sa said. “They [Iran and Turkey] a region in flux and is backing dif- are not Arab. The majority [of the ferent sides in conflicts in Syria, Middle East] is Arab and the Arabs need Egypt, Egypt also needs the ald Trump as the US president, Yemen and Libya. This is a precari- will never say ‘Yes, sir’ to Turkey Arabs and altogether we can do the Moussa struck a note of caution. ous state that is raising tensions or Iran. But if there are leaders game. Separately we can’t.” “Well, the beginning has not been between Cairo and traditional stal- from among our own ranks, like Egypt must play a larger role in very encouraging but let us wait wart supporter Saudi Arabia. Many the Saudis and Egyptians, so I resolving regional crises, Moussa and see how things will develop. Egyptian officials deny any tension believe this is the way to solve the “With the said, particularly the political and In the United States, it is not just between Riyadh and Cairo but the problems.” security crises next door in Libya. the personage of the president signs of strain are clear. As for whether Egypt, which has developments “We witness active politics. himself; there are the rest of the “Egyptian-Arab relations have been preoccupied with domestic Yes, Egypt is playing a role there, institutions as well. So, let us give their own life,” Moussa said. concerns over regional ones since that are taking particularly as the situation in him the first 100 days, or even the “There are pushes and pulls — the 2011 revolution, has returned Libya is a threat to Egypt if it is left first six months,” he said. positives and negatives — but all of to its regional role after the revolu- place we have to the terrorists. They were eyeing “Let us give him a chance. us feel that, in the final analysis, tion, Moussa was clear. Egypt [from Libya], especially [the Provided, of course, that he does we all belong to the Arab nation. “No, not yet but we are on the to discuss the Islamic State] ISIS. So, the role of not embark on something that We all belong to the Arab world way,” he said. “It will take time neighbouring countries, and par- will confuse the whole issue,” he and the differences will be dealt and sound policies but the Arab future regional ticularly Egypt, is to bring together added, speaking before Trump’s with as we go.” world is in need of Egypt. Wher- all of the parties in the Libyan controversial decree to ban citi- He added: “This is not the first ever you go, you will hear talks arrangement.” conflict to sit together and chart zens of seven Muslim countries time that Egypt and other Arab that ‘We cannot do it without Former Arab League the route forward. I can see some from entering the United States. countries [have had problems]. Egypt. We want Egypt back’. This, glimpse of hope now.” You remember after Camp David? in itself, is essential for Egypt to secretary-general Speaking less than one week Mahmud el-Shafey is an Arab That was a total boycott. And then assist the situation. As the Arabs Amr Moussa after the inauguration of Don- Weekly correspondent in London. Arab League in dire financial straits

ning of January but only 14% of ing support to Arab people in need.” Ahmed Megahid the $64 million budget has been Observers accuse some Arab gov- financed and that was all paid by ernments of withholding contribu- Cairo Kuwait. tions to the budget of the league to In 2016, only 38% of the funds put pressure on Arab League Secre- he Arab League is in the needed for the proposed budget tary-General . midst of a financial crisis was paid. “Funding is turning into some that is making it hard for The lack of finances has crip- Arab countries’ pressure card to ef- the 22-member organisa- pled the league at every turn. It has fect change in the Arab League,” tion to maintain humani- failed to conduct most of the hu- said Abdullah al-Ashaal, Egypt’s Ttarian activities or even pay the manitarian missions it had planned former assistant Foreign minister. salaries of its employees. for war-torn and poverty-stricken “Some Arab states have interest “Member states lag behind the areas, such as Yemen, Libya, Iraq in undermining the league and its deadline for paying their share of and . These projects were ap- new chief.” the 2017 budget,” said Adnan al- proved at the Arab League summit Some Arab League members, in- Khodeir, assistant Arab League sec- last July in Mauritania. cluding Qatar and Sudan, objected retary-general for financial affairs. Each Arab League member is sup- to Aboul Gheit’s nomination to “We have appealed to Arab govern- posed to contribute to the league’s the top post of the Arab League ments to speed up the payment of budget based on the number of its last March. Qatar cited some of his their contribution to the budget or nationals working for the organisa- stances when he served as Egypt’s we will fail to carry out our job.” tion. Egypt used to pay 65% of the Foreign minister from 2004-11. budget of the league because that Khodeir said the financial crisis The financial crisis percentage of Arab League employ- would undermine the league in the is leading to ees were Egyptian. In 2012, Saudi coming months, including its bid to massive changes Arabia replaced Egypt, which was prepare for the Arab League sum- inside the league, struggling with economic and po- A 2016 picture shows Arab Foreign ministers and delegation mit, scheduled for March in Jordan. including the laying litical unrest, as the largest budget members attending an annual meeting at the Arab League “This is why I say this financial contributor. headquarters in Cairo. (Reuters) crisis must come to an end very off of scores of One Arab League employee said quickly,” Khodeir said. “This is a employees. instead of receiving her salary for crisis that will bring most of the ac- December on the 25th of the month might not come at all,” said the em- financial resources, which is why tivities of the league to a total halt.” Arab governments were sup- as usual, she received it on Janu- ployee, who requested anonymity. it needs to cut down its spending. posed to have paid their annual ary 19th. “My colleagues and I are Arab League spokesman Hossam The lack of funds has actually ren- Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian share of the budget by the begin- certain that the salary for January Zaki said: “The league has limited dered the league incapable of offer- reporter based in Cairo.