Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr has tried to ease western fears over Egypt’s Islamists, saying in a major international conference in Germany that they are generally moderate.
Following former President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, the previously-banned Muslim Brotherhood, along with the more conservative Salafis, swept People’s Assembly elections. Experts say that the vote was the first unrigged election in six decades.
Speaking to the Munich Security Conference, Amr said that the election results shouldn’t frighten anyone.
“People should judge them (Islamists) by their deeds rather than based on their preconceptions,” said Amr, according to a statement circulated by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He added that Egyptian society has been moderate throughout its history, a fact which is reflected in statements made by political forces.
He also said that he is confident that the 25 January revolution will achieve its goals of freedom, dignity and social justice, and added that the Egyptian youth have achieved what nobody thought possible.
“They will be able to build a modern and strong Egypt,” he said.
On Saturday, Amr held talks in Munich with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She warned him that the failure to resolve a bitter dispute over the status of non-governmental pro-democracy groups might lead to the loss of American aid to the country.
The US is slated to give Egypt US$1.3 billion in military assistance and $250 million in economic aid in 2012.
