Remarks and Q&A by Ambassador William J. Burns, June 29, 2011

July 6, 2011

Ambassador Burns:  Thank you very much.  I am delighted to have the chance to meet with all of you this afternoon, and I am delighted to be back in Egypt, which I last visited in February, shortly after the Revolution.  It was true then, and it is certainly true now, that the courage and the tremendous peaceful determination that was so clear at Tahrir Square captured the imagination of the entire world.

As President Obama has said on a number of occasions, nothing is more important to the future of the Middle East than the success of Egypt’s democratic transition, and the success of that transition is deeply in the interest of the United States.

That is a conviction that is shared also by leaders of the American Congress, and  Senator Kerry and Senator McCain emphasized that on their recent visit to Cairo.  That sentiment is shared by American businesses.  The chairman of General Electric and a number of other business executives on his delegation emphasized that in their recent visit.

We recognize that enormous challenges lie ahead for Egypt and for Egyptians. We recognize that the road ahead will not be easy.  We recognize that that is a road that can only be navigated by Egyptians themselves.  We recognize that Egypt is just beginning a long and complicated transition.  We recognize that the success of the political transition depends on creating a sense of economic possibility and hope.

We have had excellent discussions over the past couple of days, which we will continue later this afternoon and tomorrow morning.  I have already met with Field Marshal Tantawi and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister, other senior government ministers, and civil society, youth, and business leaders.

I emphasized throughout those discussions American support for an open and inclusive political process in Egypt. I also emphasized the importance of following through on the commitment to lift the emergency law before the elections, and the importance of protecting freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

We began thorough consultations with our Egyptian partners on how best to apply the proposals that President Obama made in his speech on the 19^th of May, including the one billion dollars of debt relief over the next few years,  one billion dollars of loan guarantees, the establishment of an enterprise fund, and an ambitious regional trade that can open up market access and open up greater possibilities for trade and investment in Egypt.

We will do all we can to support not just Egypt’s short-term financial stabilization, but also to promote growth and the creation of jobs in the medium-term.

We want to support the revival of economic growth in a way which benefits not just a few Egyptians, but which spreads benefits and growth across Egyptian society. 

We are committed to a long-term partnership with Egypt and with the Egyptian people.  We have a lot to gain by working together.  Never has there been a moment when Egypt’s success, Egypt’s leadership, Egypt’s example, been more important to this region or to the United States. 

Now I am glad to take your questions.

Question

Ambassador Burns:  I continue to believe that Egypt’s revolution holds enormous promise for Egyptians and for people across this region, because I truly do believe that the example of Egypt’s successful transition matters enormously to others who are seeking the same kind of freedom and dignity and opportunity elsewhere in the region.  That’s why the United States is so committed to doing everything it can to support the transition here.  I am not naïve.  I understand that there are many challenges which are ahead and many problems which you need to overcome, but I have a great deal of confidence in the capacity of  Egyptians for achieving real and enduring change.

Question

Ambassador Burns:  We have certainly discussed that issue, and it is a subject that is certainly taken seriously by the Egyptian leadership.  I don’t have all the details of what transpired last night.  The Prime Minister has called for a thorough investigation of what happened.  Obviously, what was central to the revolution that emerged out of Tahrir Square in January was the tremendous peaceful determination of Egyptians to realize their aspirations.  It is extremely important to us, but more importantly to Egyptians, to continue to pursue, peacefully, those kind of aspirations.  We hope that the investigation that’s been announced will be a fair and thorough one, and that the political transition that is underway can unfold in a peaceful way because that’s what’s most important to Egypt’s future and the interests of Egyptians.

Question

Ambassador Burns:  I think the reality since the revolutions began in Tunisia and in Egypt is that there’s no society in this region that’s immune from the kind of pressures for change and the aspirations for change which I think were most dramatically expressed in Tahrir Square.  And I think that any regime in the region that thinks that it is somehow immune or exempt from that is deeply mistaken.  I think the basic interest of citizens across the Arab world in freedom and dignity and opportunity is something which is going to drive the politics in this region for many years to come.  It’s not going to unfold in exactly the same way in every society, but I don’t think there’s any turning back on those kind of aspirations or the realities that they create.

Question: To what extent do you understand that the Interior Ministry and military forces have been reforming the way that they deal with civilians as far as the human rights abuses that have been performed on some of the activists, and to what extent have you been pushing them on that? Have you been talking about human rights abuses with Tantawi?

Ambassador Burns:  Security sector reform in Egypt is obviously a very important priority, and it’s a process that has begun in some respects.  It’s a process that’s going to take time and a lot of effort on the part of the transitional government, but also from elected governments.  It’s very important, I think, to the future of Egypt’s democratic transition.  It’s also important when abuses have occurred, such as those at the Egyptian museum last spring, that they’re investigated thoroughly and that those who are responsible are held accountable.  I don’t mean to suggest that this is a neat or easy process, but I think that the reform of the security sector needs to continue to be a high priority.

Question: You mentioned that your discussions included bilateral trade agreements.  Are we going to see new tools or just traditional approaches like the QIZs?

Ambassador Burns:  As President Obama suggested in his speech on May 19^th, we’re committed to developing and applying new tools on trade and other economic partnership initiatives.  I’ll give you one example:  the billion dollars of debt relief over the next three years that President Obama has proposed.  This can provide significant benefit to Egypt as it wrestles with its own economic recovery.  Our hope is that the monies that are freed up by the debt relief might then be used to address priorities which Egyptians themselves have identified.  One idea would be to focus on education, especially in science and technology, and vocational training for Egyptian youth. Creative programs like this would demonstrate the American commitment to the next generation of Egyptians, aiming to equip them with the educational skills that they need to compete in a modern economy.  We also hope that we can use some of the monies that are freed up by the debt relief to contribute to short-term job-creation and the improvement of infrastructure in local communities around Egypt, the construction of new schools and clinics, and provide the jobs that go with them. So we’re pursuing some very practical initiatives, focused on the needs and aspirations of the new generation of Egyptians, the same generation that helped create the enormous promise of Tahrir Square. We recognize the urgency of the need to demonstrate tangible economic results for Egyptians.

Question: I was wondering if in any of your meetings today you discussed the upcoming elections in September and whether you believe it’s possible to have free and transparent elections in September, was that discussed? Are you open to postponing? And also, if you could just comment on the broader relationship between the new Egypt and the U.S., there’s a lot of animosity?

Ambassador Burns:  In terms of the relationship between the United States and Egypt, as I said before, we are determined to do everything we can to support Egypt’s economic recovery, in part because we recognize the connection between creating economic hope and a successful democratic transition.  And that’s why we’re looking at very practical ideas like debt relief and what that can help produce, particularly for Egyptian youth, to give them a sense of hope, to create jobs, to equip students and young people with the kind of skills and education that they need to be able to compete.  Those are the kind of areas which we want to work with our Egyptian partners on.  It’s not the business of the United States to impose or to dictate conditions with regard to these kind of opportunities.  We want to assist.  So I’m confident that in the discussions that we’ve begun and will continue, we’re going to find mutually acceptable ways of providing the kinds of assistance that fully respect Egypt’s sovereignty, but that also fully support a growth of civil society in Egypt, and fully address the real needs that Egyptians, especially young Egyptians, face today.  And so that’s really what we’re trying to do. 

Question

Ambassador Burns:  On the first part of your question, we’ve certainly expressed again during my visit, as President and Secretary Clinton have reinforced before, our support for an open and inclusive electoral process and political transition in Egypt.  It’s the business of Egyptians to decide the complicated questions like sequence and pace of elections, and there’s a healthy debate as you mentioned amongst a lot of thoughtful Egyptians about what’s the best way to organize.  I believe Egyptians, recognizing all the difficulties that lie ahead, are capable of organizing a credible process, and that’s something that we’re going to continue to support. 

Question

Ambassador Burns:  I would argue that we have tried very hard to be consistent in our support for the basic aspirations for freedom and dignity and opportunity, that you see running across this region.  No society, and no regime, whether it’s a republic or a monarchy, is immune from that.  And so that’s why we’ve tried to be very direct in our support for political dialogue in Bahrain, for example, because there’s no security solution to the political challenges which Bahrainis face.  And that’s why we hope that you’ll see an early resumption of a serious political dialogue there.  That’s why we’ve supported the process of serious political reform in countries like Morocco and Jordan, where it’s extremely important for governments to try and stay out ahead of the obvious wave of aspirations for change that is sweeping over every society in this region.  And that’s something that we’re going to continue to emphasize both privately and publicly.

Question: My question is simple, when will American policy in the Middle East change?

Ambassador Burns:  There’s always a healthy debate about American policy in the Middle East.  I think that the clearest and most articulate expression of what the United States is about in the Middle East came in the speech that President Obama gave on the 19^th of May, in which he expressed very clearly American support for democratic reform, for the wave of changes taking place across this region.  The President stressed our recognition that those changes are of fundamental importance, not only to the Middle East, but to the whole international system.  He also emphasized our recognition that it’s important to support economic aspirations as well in order to make the success of those democratic transitions possible, and also our recognition that the Palestinian issue and the importance of producing a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis is also of fundamental importance to this region and to American interests.  And so it seems to me that that remains the clearest expression of what we’re about as a country across this region and the broad strategy that we’re going to try and employ.  You’re going to have to make your own judgments about what you think about that and whether you believe it suits the realities of this region, but that’s what we’re committed to. 

Question: From your meetings today, do you believe that the military is committed to handing back power to civilian rule, and also to submit themselves to civilian command?

Ambassador Burns:  In the conversations which I’ve had with Field Marshal Tantawi and the military leadership, and recent conversations others of my colleagues have had, it’s been made very clear that the military leadership is committed to transferring power back into civilian hands as quickly as possible.  And everything I’ve heard in my meetings today reinforces that.  The process of building democratic governance in Egypt is obviously going to take time, but it seems to me that there’s a broad commitment in this society to building those kind of institutions and to building that kind of a democratic system.  And that’s certainly in the best interest of Egypt, and it’s in the best interest of the United States too. 

Question

Ambassador Burns:  First, I think that assistance over the years has helped to produce results for Egyptians. The ideas that we’ve proposed now in terms of debt relief, in terms of investing in education, especially in science and technology and vocational training for the next generation of Egyptians, can bring real benefit to Egypt.  And that’s something to which we’re committed.  We’re certainly also committed, in the law enforcement channels which have been established between the United States and Egypt, to respond fully to the requests which we’ve gotten, to deal justly and effectively with the cases you mentioned, including cases of monies abroad which were acquired illicitly.  We will follow through on those requests. 

Question: But it’s been months, when are you going to do it? When will this happen?

Ambassador Burns:  We’re committed to moving that legal process just as quickly as it’s possible, and we’ll work with Egyptian authorities as this legal process unfolds.  We’re committed to doing that.

Question:  A lot of people on the liberal left think that they don’t have enough time to get ready for the elections and they fear that there will be an Islamist win in the elections because the Muslim Brothers are the most organized and it’s also aligned itself with some other salafi groups,  and I was wondering if you have talked about this and what your comments are.

Ambassador Burns:  As I said before, the question of the pace and organization and sequence of elections and the constitution writing process is the subject of a very healthy and thoughtful debate in Egypt right now.  Ultimately, those are questions that can only be made by Egyptians, not by Americans or by any outsider.  I’m confident in the capacity of Egyptians to make the right choices.  It’s not going to be an easy process, but it is very important to move methodically through this process, to do it in a transparent way, which builds confidence on the part of citizens and voters, to ensure that the whole society, the whole citizenry can participate in the electoral process, that people understand the rules, that they have enough time to organize themselves.  But as I said, ultimately those are choices that only Egyptians can make.

Thank you all very much.  Thanks for taking the time.