Thursday
Jul222010
MENA House: "Official Statements" on Mubarak's Health; 50 Years of Egyptian TV
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 6:05 
It is official: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is "fine" and "very active".At a press conference in Orba Palace, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Soliman Awad addressed foreign reports on Mubarak's health. The conference was arranged after The Washington Times published that sources from "international intelligence agencies" claiming that President Hosni Mubarak had less than one year to live. [Editor's Note: EA had published the reports about Mubarak's cancer, claimed to be terminal, two weeks ago.]
Awad said, "As a diplomat, I am used to dealing with rumours" and that only God knows when the life of an individual will end. He went on further to say that "
Official statements are rarely made regarding President Mubarak's health. Even when the news filtered out through London-based Arabic newspapers and EA and then was splashed by The Washington Times, Egyptian domestic news and evening discussion programmes did not touch the subject. Only when the official statement was made, did presenter Mona el Shazly reassure the Egyptian public that the President's health is fine.
The "official statement" also followed claims that, in light of the reports on Mubarak's poor health, Israeli Minister Arieh Eldad advised Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu not to rush negotiations with the Egyptian President as brokering a deal with Egypt in the circumstances would be a mistake.
So the question is begged: was the official statement made to establish the "truth of the situation" or to dispel inaccurate rumours? Was this for economic stability? After all, in summer 2008, news raced around the streets of Egypt that President Mubarak had died. The response: shares were sold for pennies and there was widespread panic.
On a lighter side note, Happy 50th Anniversary to Egyptian TV --- on 21 July 1960, at exactly 7 p.m., Cairo went on-air.
Here's a short clip showing the birth of television in Egypt, with all-time greats Omar Sharif, Kamal el Shenawy, Ahmed Ramzi, Roshdi Abaza and his wife Samia Gamal. The list goes on...
Reader Comments (9)
Christina,
Read this headline - and then look at the expression on Al-Baradei's face in the photo in the article. The picture says it all. :-)
Muslim Brotherhood secures tens of thousands of signatures for ElBaradei's petition
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/07/egypt-brotherhood-secures-thousands-of-signatures-for-elbaradeis-petition.html" rel="nofollow">http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2...
Catherine,
'"The Muslim Brotherhood wants to use ElBaradei as a card in its negotiations with the regime ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections," Hossam Tamam, an expert on political Islam, said.
Sums it up really. Not quite sure what to make of el Baradeii's expression though. Concerned, happy?
"Not quite sure what to make of el Baradeii's expression though. Concerned, happy? "
To me he looks very concerned and not the least bit happy - that's why I thought the juxtaposition of headline and photo was so apt :-)
Absolutely-I see it now.
So where will el Baradeii go next for support? Are his actions effective domestically and externally? Where is he going with all this??
RE: Where is he going with all this??
I think the question is actually: Where is all this going with him? He said in a recent interview that he had no political ambitions until after he returned to Egypt and was welcomed by crowds of ordinary people flocking to him with THEIR hopes and needs everywhere he went. That's when he decided he would get involved. We'll see.
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak will not go to an African Union summit after officials had cited his planned attendance as proof of his good health. - In effort to discount intensifying rumors over the 82-year-old's deteriorating health, government officials on July 14 cited the president's packed schedule, including the African summit, as evidence of his continuing vigor. (AP on Huffpost: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100724/ml-egypt-mubarak/" rel="nofollow">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/201007...
Christina,
Re WitteKr's last post, what will happen to the 2011 elections if Mubarak dies in the next few months? Will they be moved up or help when originally planned? Could Mubarak Jr step in as caretaker president?
Catherine,
El Baradeii was welcomed by crowds because of his experience in the UN-i.e a legitimate background. But this is not how politics runs in the motherland. The expression on his face in the picture highlighted says it all: 'concerned...frustrated...'
Is el Baradeii being productive? Well, he has travelled throughout Egypt, the EU and the US discussing 'Egypt' with Egyptians of the diaspora. Result: More talk...more talk...and more talk. Action?
Anderson: 'They see change, both good and bad, all around them, and they are eager to see it sorted out, organized, channeled, and effectively managed. The complaint of the moment in Cairo, from cab drivers to ministers: "there is no system!"
Organisation has to come from the top-from Parliament.
Dunne makes a very interesting point at the end of her article:
"The United States will have some tough choices to make about whether it values more its friendship with the regime or with the people of Egypt." The US must find a mutual line in order to ensure security and stability in the country and thus, in the region.