EGYPT: U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political affairs, William Burns calls for "fair and thorough" probe into Cairo clashes

Record ID: 735254

  • Title: EGYPT: U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political affairs, William Burns calls for "fair and thorough" probe into Cairo clashes
  • Date: 30th June 2011
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JUNE 29, 2011) (REUTERS) U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, WILLIAM BURNS, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE CLOSE ON JOURNALIST TYPING ON COMPUTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, WILLIAM BURNS, SAYING: "I don't know all the details of what transpired last night. I know the Prime Minister announced earlier today that there will be 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 realise their aspirations. It's extremely important, it seems to us, but more importantly to Egyptians to continue to pursue peacefully those kind of aspirations. "So we hope that the investigation that has been announced will be a fair and thorough one and that the political transition that's underway can unfold in a peaceful way." JOURNALISTS SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, WILLIAM BURNS, SAYING: "I emphasised throughout those discussions [with Egyptian leaders] American support for open and inclusive political process in Egypt, the importance of following through on the commitment to lift the Emergency Law before the elections. The importance of protecting freedom of expression and freedom of assembly." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, WILLIAM BURNS, SAYING: "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 responsible are held accountable. So I don't mean to suggest that this is a neat and easy process but I think the reform of the security sector needs to continue to be a high priority." JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) US UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, WILLIAM BURNS, SAYING: "We're determined to do everything we can to help support Egypt's economic recovery, in part because we recognise the connection between creating economic hope and a successful democratic transition. And so that's why we've tried to look very practically at 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." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) US UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, WILLIAM BURNS, SAYING: "Well, we've certainly expressed again during my visit as the 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 complicated questions like sequence and pace of elections, and there's a healthy debate, as you've mentioned, amongst a lot of thoughtful Egyptians about the best way to organise that." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACZUBYBFY0UJK33W21SI5JQV5B
  • Story Text: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns told a news conference in Cairo on Wednesday (June 29) that an investigation into violent clashes between the police and demonstrators in the Egyptian capital overnight that left more than 1,000 people injured, must be "fair and thorough," and that the country's political transition continues to unfold "in a peaceful way."
    Police fired tear gas on Wednesday at hundreds of stone-throwing Egyptian youths near Tahrir square and the country's Interior Ministry in one of the worst nights of clashes since the uprising that toppled long-time President Hosni Mubarak in February. The clashes reportedly began after families of people killed in the uprising held an event in a Cairo suburb late on Tuesday (June 28) in their honour. Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has called for an inquiry into the violence that continued for much of Wednesday.
    U.S. Under-secretary of State Burns met with Egyptian leaders in Cairo, as well as the head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa.
    Burns called for the reform process to continue, and repeated calls for Egypt's draconian Emergency Law to be scrapped before planned elections in the fall.
    "I emphasised throughout those discussions [with Egyptian leaders] American support for open and inclusive political process in Egypt, the importance of following through on the commitment to lift the Emergency Law before the elections. The importance of protecting freedom of expression and freedom of assembly," he said.
    Activists have expressed frustration at the pace of reform being carried out by Egypt's interim government under the supervision of the ruling military council.
    Burns said that the government must push forwards on form of the security services in order to restore public trust.
    "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 responsible are held accountable. So I don't mean to suggest that this is a neat and easy process but I think the reform of the security sector needs to continue to be a high priority," he said.
    The army's alleged abuse of protesters arrested after a protest on March 9 has infuriated activists and human rights groups in Egypt, with the army admitting that women held at a detention facility in the Egyptian museum were subjected to forced 'virginity tests'.
    Burns also emphasised the importance of supporting Egypt's battered economy, and promised that the United States would follow through on promises of aid.
    "We're determined to do everything we can to help support Egypt's economic recovery, in part because we recognise the connection between creating economic hope and a successful democratic transition. And so that's why we've tried to look very practically at 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," he said.
    In May the Obama administration offered around $2 billion in aid and loans to bolster the Egyptian economy in the wake of the revolution.
    Burns also weighed in on the planned Egyptian elections, which many secular groups want postponed due to fears that the more organised and long-established Islamist groups may dominate.
    "We've certainly expressed again during my visit as the 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 complicated questions like sequence and pace of elections, and there's a healthy debate, as you've mentioned, amongst a lot of thoughtful Egyptians about the best way to organise that," said Burns.
    Tensions between the police and protesters eased in downtown Cairo on Wednesday evening, with the Egyptian army stepping up its presence outside of the Interior Ministry as some demonstrators dispersed.
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