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Obama cancels US exercises, but not aid, with Egypt
Obama cancels US exercises, but not aid, with Egypt (AFP) / 16 August 2013 US President Barack Obama on Thursday canceled exercises with Egypt’s military to protest the killing of hundreds of demonstrators but stopped short of suspending $1.3 billion in annual aid. Obama urged Egypt’s army-installed authorities to lift a state of emergency and allow peaceful dissent, saying he “strongly” condemned the crackdown on protesters. “While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets and rights are being rolled back,” Obama told reporters during his vacation on the tony island of Martha’s Vineyard. Obama said the United States had informed Egypt it was calling off the Bright Star exercise, which has been scheduled every two years since 1981. In 2009, more than 1,300 US troops took part in Bright Star, in which Germany, Kuwait and Pakistan also participated. But the exercises were also canceled in 2011 as Egypt was in the throes of the revolt that overthrew longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak, a close US ally. More than 500 people have died since Wednesday when Egyptian security forces, defying appeals for restraint by the United States and other powers, crushed pro-Mursi demonstrations. The United States has carefully avoided calling Mursi’s ouster a coup, a designation that would require the United States to cut assistance. Obama said that Mursi was “not inclusive” and that “perhaps even a majority” of Egyptians opposed the Muslim Brotherhood leader. “While we do not believe that force is the way to resolve political differences, after the military’s intervention several weeks ago, there remained a chance for reconciliation and an opportunity to pursue a democratic path,” Obama said. Instead, Obama said, Egypt has taken “a more dangerous path.” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has spoken more than 15 times to Egypt’s military chief Abdel Fattah Al Sisi since early July to counsel restraint, called him again Thursday to voice concern about the violence. But Hagel also said that the Pentagon “will continue to maintain a military relationship with Egypt.” Obama administration officials said they were reviewing US assistance to Egypt but made no announcements. Egypt has been one of the biggest recipients of US largesse since it signed a peace treaty with close ally Israel in 1979. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier praised the army and said it was “restoring democracy” by ousting the elected president, although he later backtracked on his remarks. Senator Rand Paul, a member of the rival Republican Party who is critical of foreign aid, urged an immediate termination of assistance. He charged that Egyptian forces were using US military vehicles to quell dissent. “While President Obama ‘condemns the violence in Egypt,’ his administration continues to send billions of taxpayer dollars to help pay for it,” Paul said in a statement. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, a frequent critic of military abuses overseas, also said that, as per US law, aid to Egypt “should cease until they restore democracy.” But a bid by Paul to end military aid to Egypt was easily defeated in the Senate on July 31, with much of his own party agreeing with Obama on Egypt. Israel has urged US policymakers to continue aid to Egypt, seeing it as vital to preserving the peace treaty and ensuring the military’s cooperation against Islamist hardliners. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki pointed to the “important role Egypt plays in regional stability” and acknowledged the limited impact of canceling the exercises. “I don’t think anyone in the government thinks that, certainly, the cancelation of Bright Star is going to change actions on the ground,” she told reporters. Faced with the violence, the State Department urged US citizens to defer travel to Egypt and leave if they are already there. Continue reading
Khalifa mourns UAE envoy to Kuwait
Khalifa mourns UAE envoy to Kuwait (Wam) / 16 August 2013 The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent a cable of condolences to the family of UAE Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Ali Ahmed bin Shukr Al Za’abi who died recently. In the cable, the president expressed his heartfelt sympathy for the family of the departed. He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest his soul in eternal peace in Paradise and bestow patience on the bereaved family. Shaikh Khalifa also praised the late diplomat’s great service to the nation. Continue reading
Indian expats wear their tricolour on the sleeves
Indian expats wear their tricolour on the sleeves Olivia Olarte-Ulherr & Nivriti Butalia / 16 August 2013 Hundreds of Indian expatriates sang their national anthem as their envoys and leaders hoisted their national flag signalling the beginning of the 67th Independence Day celebrations at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Consulate in Dubai and also at community associations across the country on Thursday morning. Girls hold their national flag as part of the Independence Day celebrations held at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and, below, the Consulate in Dubai on Thursday. — KT photos by Shoaib Anwer and Mukesh Kamal There was a good turnout at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, where the flag was hoisted by Indian Ambassador M. K. Lokesh. Students from the Abu Dhabi Indian School sang the national anthem and a short cultural show by the students followed. At 7.50am at the Indian Consulate in Dubai, Consul-General Sanjay Verma, wearing a black bandhgala, unfurled the national flag. The ceremony had at least 500 members present from the Indian community, the majority wearing colours of the national flag and dressed in traditional attire. The tricolor was also hoisted by Indian communities in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Kalba. In Dubai, Verma commenting on the diversity and pluralism of Indian culture, said there must be (in the auditorium) speakers of at least 40-50 Indian languages. Edwin, who has lived with his family for 20 years in Abu Dhabi, said he was very proud of his country and what it had achieved. The Independence Day celebrations for him meant that “we ran and established the country on our own reaching these heights”. “It’s a great joy for me that India enjoys a good stature in the world market today and is known for its economic boom, education, science and technology.” Verma in his speech requested the audience to not lose heart at the state of the economy and the crisis in governance and other issues that plague India. He read out excerpts of the president’s address on the eve of Independence Day. And he also spoke of India’s healthy bilateral relations with the UAE. He congratulated the Indian community for their contribution to the two nations, India and the UAE, and spoke about India’s diversity and inclusive national model. He stressed that India was stronger than ever before in its history and prepared to deal with any challenge that came its way. In his speech read out during the ceremonies, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said, “For a developing country of more than 1.2 billion people, the debate between growth and redistribution is vital … The last decade has seen India emerge as one of the fastest growing nations in the world. During this period, our economy grew annually at an average rate of 7.9 per cent. “We are today self-sufficient in food grain production. We are the largest exporter of rice and second largest exporter of wheat in the world. The record production of 18.45 million tonnes of pulses this year augurs well for our march towards self-sufficiency in pulses… This momentum has to be sustained. In a globalised world, with increasing economic complexities, we have to learn to cope better with adversities, both external and domestic.” On security, he said, “Our commitment to peace is unfailing but even our patience has limits. All steps necessary to ensure internal security and protect the territorial integrity of the nation will be taken.” Noting today’s “widespread cynicism and disillusionment” with the governance and institutions, and the challenges of corruption, Mukherjee urged his compatriots to “elect a stable government which will ensure security and economic development” in the coming elections. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose speech was also read out, said despite the country’s progressive journey in the past ten years, “much remains to be done. The process of change that we have initiated will be continued in the coming time”. He cited the enhanced economic prosperity in rural areas, the double numbers of young men and women going to college and the strengthening of the law dealing with offences against women. “If in the future we can achieve the same kind of progress as in the last decade, the day is not far off when India will be rid of poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance. Our India will be prosperous and all its citizens will be equal partners in this prosperity, irrespective of their religion, caste, region or language,” he pointed out. At the Dubai Consulate, patriotic songs were sung by four different singers. While Chhavie Sahay rendered her take on ‘Saare jahan se achha’, the highlight of the morning was Assamese singer Deepa Bordoloi, along with Utpal Baruah on the guitar. A four page print-out of the president’s speech in Hindi was distributed to the attendees at the Consulate that ended with Jai Hind.— news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
