Oct. 15, 2000

Speech by President Mubarak on the occasion of the Parliamentary elections

In the name of Allah

Dear fellow citizens     I have taken it upon myself, since I assumeed the honour of responsibility, to revert to you on each and every important issue, openely speaking my mind to you,seeking counsel and opinion and inviting you to participate with effort and thought.

In so doing, Iam prompted by a firm belief that decision-making should be based on a deep consciousness of the pulse of the masses, a sound understanding of both their hopes and primes and a responsible awareness of the significance of their role and charge for application and implementation.

Since I assumed reponsibility, I have adopted a straightforward, open-hearted approach, not only because it makes shortcuts to the mind and the heart, but also it truly opens the door of participation to all. Failing popular support and participation, Egypt would have never been able, within such short span of time, to entrench a state of institutions that rises on the respect of law and opens up wide vistas to the other opinion, the existence of which is held as essential.

This is a state that holds as sacred the freedoms of opinion, thought and respects human rights and build above all a political structure composed of 15 parties representing a full spectrum of political orientations, capable of understanding the responsabilities of a democratic society.

Although we have already made long strides along the course of national progress in the political, economic, and social spheres; yet, there still remain ahead urgent missions that require concerned efforts by the whole society as well as conscious participation by each and every male and female citizen:

- We have to exploit every untrapped energy in order to push forward progress and support every sincere effort for the sake of Egypt’s revival.

- We have to eradicate the remnants of backwardness, continue to beset forces of corruption and remove deficiencies tyhatstill obstruct our progress, within a transparent, democratic framework that respects individual righjt and the role of law.

- We have to give our new generations equal opportunities to develop their skills capabilities, in such away as to qualify them to undertake responsibility and actively participate in advancing national action.

- Given that the citizen is the motive power and maker of development as well as the goal and target and the means and the end, it is our initial and ultimate goal to raise the status of the motherland and citizen, improve his standard of living and his capabilities and realize his hopes and aspirations.

Fellow citizens,

In view of the foregoing, it was my decision to talk to you in the wake of new parliamentary elections that I trust, will be an outstanding landmark along the road of political reform, bound to enhance the progress of Egyptian democracy.

We are not starting from a vaccum, having established a state of institutions, held high the role of law and made wide strides along the road of political reform, the fruits of which we are today reaping in the form of parliamentary elections that are subject, for the first time in Egypt’s history, to full supervision by the judiciary.

The importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections lies in that they come with the beginning of a new century imposing difficult challenges that call for an able and distinguished society. This situation requires wide popular participation in charting the image of the future and sharing its burdens, side by side with government efforts, which is no longer sufficient to win the race among nations.

Nor is it any longer adequate to organize and exploit the community’s endeavours and energies and unleash its intellectual, scientific and innovative powers necessary to cope up with the astounding advancements in today’s world.

For the first time, parliamentary elections will be conducted over a span of three weeks in order to ensure that each and every ballot will be subject to judiciary supervision.

I do call upon Egyptian parties and foremost the National Party to rise to the occasion and work as hard as they can to make the electoral race an epitome of sound democracy and an incarnation of civilized attitude. They should keep away from violent and overused practices.

They should also keep conflict within the buonds of intellectual dialogue between the platforms of different parties.

This is the way to augment our conviction of the importance of participation and motivate the people with all its categories to exercise their right to vote, thus taking part in making the future of their homeland.

This will also be a unique opportunity for the parties to train their cadres in conducting dialogue and using the power of reason and pursuation as a means to capture elector’s votes.

It is my hope also that elections would be a message to the outside world, confirming the Egyptians’ keen interest in participating in forging the future future of their motherland.

This would further be a message to emphasize the enthusiasm to enhance the progress of democracy by actively engaging in the polls on the part of all masses of citizens with their political, cultural and sceintific affiliations particularly those who in th past hd been reluctant, under many pretexts to undertake the electoral duty. We want to view with nations in democratic elections involving the largest percentage of the Egyptian people.

These elections should reflect a civilized attitude of a time-honord people that reject all forms of hooliganism and violence. These will be faced with due, prompt, decisive and stringent counter action, in order to safeguard electors’ freedom and the right to vote in favour of such camndidate he deems worthy of their trust.

Fellow citizens,

Our motherland is the common property of all citizens who have equal rights to have equal opportunities, to stand on equal footing before the law. They are also entitled to redress errors and straighten up our path through rational opinion, sincere council and free electoral vote derived by patriotic conscience.

During these decisive years, we will be forging our way toward a tangible and essential leap in alll spheres of national action. This calls for such a strong parliamentary support that opens up the road to a better future for the coming Egyptian generations.

We are all aware that the fruits of reform do not crop up overnight, but rather take time and require sustain and unrelenting effort.

If some people feel somewhat concerned about the recent relative slowdown in economic activity, they all have to rest assured that the Egyptian economy commands suffecient strenghth to overleap much transitional phenomena and bring back growth to its required rates. This should be accomplished through the cooperation and integrated action among the government, private sector and non-governmental organizations.

We are proud of the role played by the latter sector in the service of the community and confident of the ability of those in charge thereof to committ to sound performance and meet their obligations to the society with an overwhelming sense of responsibility, regardless of some violations or trespasses by a minority of them.

Fellow citizens,

I have a firm belief in the Egyptian citizen’s ability, sincere patriotic belonging, constant aspiration to an elevated status for his homeland, superior capacity to make abundant contribution under the most difficult circumstances and true mettle that grows firmer in times of woe and danger. It is my belief in these multiple capabilities and energies within every Egyptian that prompts me today to look forward to the particiaption of each and every citizen, male or female, in the upcoming elections.

It is your participation that gives decision-making its democratic dimension and makes it invulnerable to errors of individuals and coincedence.

It is your particilpation that protects the stability of the homeland, safeguards its aspirations, controls its institutions and fosters its progress.

It is your participation that re-entrenches into the society the values of justice and equal opportunities and protects against forces of darkness, enemies of democracy and advocates of corruption.

It is your contribution that sends a strong message at home and abroad, highlighting the Egyptians’ ability to make the proper democratic choice.

Today, it is our duty to proceed to the polling boxes to stress an equal right to a homeland where all undertake responsibility for its security, stability and progress.

I do say to each citizen, mael or female that it does not matter whether you vote for the majority or the minority, for the regime or for the opposition, both the majority and minority and the regime and the opposition are two faces of the same coin that complement the framework of democratic practise.

Failing both combined, democracy loses its most important prerequiste. What actully matters is your awareness that your electoral vote is a trust, responsibilty and a duty.

It is a trust that would be renderd vigilant patriotic conscience in order for you to choose the best and most beneficial candidate to citizens and the homeland.

It is a responsibility that should be well maintained because your vote is the proof of legitimacy, stability and progress.

It is a duty that should not be abandoned because your participation fosters our joint liability to shape the future of our homeland. Today, and here in Sharm el Sheikh, we look forward for the summit, due to be held tomorrow, in an attempt to solve the Middle East issue and narrow the gap between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

In this regard, I say that we are still exerting efforts and making consultations for reaching a solution to the present issue. This needs time and we are having constant contacts with the parties concerned cheifly the US, the main player of the peace process.

I do pray to Allah Almighty to show us the right path and guide us to realize the interest of our homeland. He is the All-sustainer and the All-supporter.

May Allah peace and mercy be upon you.