Eygptian people’s will echoes in Australia
DESPITE it being on the other side of the world, sharing few cultural ties and not being a significant Australian trading partner, the Government and Opposition have both responded enthusiastically to news of Egypt’s regime change.
DESPITE it being on the other side of the world, sharing few cultural ties and not being a significant Australian trading partner, the Government and Opposition have both responded enthusiastically to news of Egypt’s regime change.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard together with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd issued a statement following the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak – one of Israel’s closest Arab allies – after 30 years in power.
“All Australians will have been moved by the joy we saw last night in Cairo’s Tahrir Square,” they said.
Together, they requested Egypt’s caretaker rulers, the military, ensure freedoms for Egyptian people, and offered any assistance required.
Rudd was further probed on ABC Radio as to why, after decades of supporting Mubarak – Rudd met with him in Cairo as recently as December – Australia so strongly supported regime change.
“I think the international community recognises that the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt under Anwar Sadat was good for stability in the region,” the Foreign Minister began. “But in the period since then, the universal democratic aspiration has grown and grown and grown, not just in Egypt but across the wider Middle East and elsewhere as well.”
In a separate interview, Rudd added that the road ahead for Egypt would not be smooth and warned the international community to expect bumps.
“It’s not going to be perfect. I think there’s going to be all sorts of problems along the way. And we have to be very, very careful about each step along the way, including the emergence of political forces. And of course, a lot of our focus at present is on the precise nature of the Muslim Brotherhood,” he said on ABC News 24.
The Opposition also welcomed the Egyptian revolution, with Tony Abbott calling on Egypt to move swiftly to free elections.
“It’s vital that whichever new government emerges from this process respects the rights of all Egyptians, including minorities such as the Copts, and maintains the peace settlement with Israel,” he said.
His foreign affairs spokesperson, Julie Bishop, emphasised the role of Egypt’s army in the transition to democracy.
“The Egyptian military appears to have played a constructive role during the recent events and it is vital that the military continues in that role, both domestically and in terms of regional security,” she said.
Philip Chester, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, noted that the Jewish community was watching very closely what happens to Israel’s close neighbour.
“Australian Jewry welcomes democratic reform in the Middle East,” he said.
Dr Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, added that more genuine democracy in the Middle East can only benefit Israel.
“It is worth remembering that if anything is the root cause of Islamist international terrorism, it is the lack of democracy, human rights and genuine responsiveness to the needs of local peoples across the region,” Dr Rubenstein said.
Chester registered his surprise over the role being played by the Egyptian military.
“It has always been very, very powerful and influential,” he said of the Arab world’s strongest army, “I didn’t quite appreciate to what extent people look up to the army of Egypt.”
Meanwhile, Dr Rubenstein looked ahead to the possible shape of Egypt’s future.
“Democracy in Egypt cannot be rushed,” the Mid-East expert said. “At the moment, the highly disciplined and pervasive
Muslim Brotherhood is the only body in the country, outside the military, in a position to exploit the turmoil or a quick election.
He continued that a Muslim Brotherhood-led Egypt would be a danger to Israel, moderate Arab states and western interests in the region.
NAOMI LEVIN
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