Political forces who refused to take part in President Mohamed Morsy's national dialogue today do not realize the challenges facing the country, are unable to take responsibility and are prioritizing personal interests over the interests of the people, said a Cabinet source.
The source said the dialogue is the only viable way to resolve political disputes and reach compromises that will serve the country.
Those who refer to the declaration of a state of emergency in Suez, Port Said and Ismailia as "collective punishment" do not understand the situation, the source continued, adding that the safety of transport through the Suez Canal is compromised by the current unrest.
The state of emergency is temporary and is meant to protect the citizens, he said.
The source called on political forces to reconsider their position on the dialogue.
The Muslim Brotherhood also criticized the National Salvation Front's refusal to participate in the dialogue.
“They cannot put conditions on the dialogue,” said group spokesperson Gihad al-Haddad on Monday.
The NSF said it rejected the dialogue because there's no guarantee it would lead to serious discussion.
“Morsy’s dialogue has no agenda that that would bring the country to safety,” Front coordinator Mohamed ElBaradei said.
The revolution's goals of freedom and social justice have not been achieved, he continued.
“The government is unable to restore order and security,” ElBaradei asserted. “And the Constitution denies rights and freedoms.”
The Muslim Brotherhood appreciates the president's invitation to a national dialogue, and the Brotherhood is always committed to peaceful resolution, Haddad told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
"We do not respond to any provocation from the political arena; we support the dialogue and the concept of dialogue," Haddad said.
“It was logical and expected … that these parties would come to the dialogue table, unless they adopt another approach that contradicts with peaceful dialogue. If so, they should be frank with their supporters,” he continued.
Morsy issued the invitation to dialogue on Sunday during a televised speech. He also declared a state of emergency in Suez, Ismailia and Port Said, establishing a month-long curfew. ElBaradei, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Amr Moussa were named in the invitation, as well as other leaders of both secular and Islamist parties.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
