The White House commented on the senators’ visit, saying, “Senators Graham and McCain are representing themselves, obviously, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Congress. But we are all focused together on the very volatile situation in Egypt. And there is no question that we consult regularly with members of Congress, especially those members like Senators Graham and McCain who have a particularly keen interest in the country and the region.”
In related news, the U.S. State Department commented on reports that Robert Ford, the former U.S. Ambassador to Syria, is set to be nominated as the next U.S. Ambassador to Egypt. When asked about the possibility, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf responded, “I have no personnel announcements to make at this point on who the next ambassador to Egypt will be. Again – I’ve said this, I think, before – Ambassador Ford is a career, long-serving diplomat who’s served in very demanding and dangerous posts, is very well respected by his State Department colleagues, also his foreign counterparts, but no announcements to make on that. And any announcement on that will eventually come from the White House.”
U.S. Officials Discuss National Reconciliation Efforts
Following U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns’ visit to Egypt, several political actors are commenting on international efforts to broker an agreement between the government and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ahmed Muslimani, the Egyptian president’s media advisor, said that foreign pressure on the Egyptian government is exceeding norms, but assured Egyptians that the government will protect “the revolution and the state.”
Education Minister Hossam Eissa publicly voiced his concern over foreign delegations visiting imprisoned Brotherhood officials. Eissa specifically rejected visits to Brotherhood leader Khairat al-Shater, who Burns met with on Monday, on the grounds that al-Shater did not hold any political office in the old regime.
The U.S. State Department defended Burn’s visit with al-Shater, saying, “This visit was conducted in the context of ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent further violence, calm tensions, and facilitate an inclusive dialogue among Egyptians that can help the transition to a democratically elected civilian government.”
According to Reuters, the Egyptian government is prepared to release some imprisoned Brotherhood leaders, unfreeze the group’s assets, and give the group three ministerial posts in exchange for the its support of the current government. This coincides with an al-Masry al-Youm report that Khairat al-Shater was receptive to Burns’ visit and welcomed his delegation’s initiative.
In related news, the National Salvation Front, Tamarod, and the June 30 Front announced that they will not accept government deals with the “terrorist” Muslim Brotherhood.
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