US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said Thursday that Washington is ready to engage in talks with the Muslim Brotherhood as long as the group respects human rights, democracy and minority rights.
Feltman told the Washington-based satellite TV channel Al-Hurra that setting up a roadmap for democratic transition is the sole responsibility of Egyptians.
Amr Drag, secretary of the Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party in Giza, said Feltman's words were not new.
“The party and the group's stance on democracy are well-known,” he affirmed.
He added that the Freedom and Justice Party is a democratic party and has a program that recognizes human rights, as well as minority rights. “We are not waiting for Americans to tell us about it.”
No contacts have been established since US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her country's willingness to engage in a dialogue with the Brotherhood, Drag added, claiming that Feltman's comments were just designed to attract media attention.
Clinton said in June that the US plans to strengthen its contacts with the Brotherhood. Many believe that the Brotherhood will win the majority of parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
