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US raises Egyptian rights record when ‘strategic dialogue’ begins | News

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry have begun a round of “strategic talks” in Washington, saying they will address bilateral relations, human rights and many regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a joint press conference with Shoukry on Monday, Blinken said Egyptian and U.S. diplomats would address “a wide range of issues” in two-day talks on Monday and Tuesday, among others. military takeover Sudan and recovery efforts nuclear deal With Iran.

The top US diplomat also praised Cairo’s role in mediation ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian groups in Gaza in May.

“Making tangible and lasting improvements in human rights is essential to strengthening our bilateral relationship, and the U.S. will continue to support these efforts,” Blinken told reporters.

The conversation came as a human right the groups asked The Biden administration, which was committed to putting human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy, took a firmer stance against Egypt in the face of the country’s human rights history.

Rights groups they complained The government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came to power in a 2013 military coup, imprisoned tens of thousands of dissidents and outlawed almost all forms of political opposition. Cairo has denied having political prisoners.

On Monday, Blinken welcomed Egypt’s National Human Rights Strategy, a long-term plan launched by the Egyptian government earlier this year that has been received with skepticism by many human rights defenders.

For his part, Shoukry said it would ultimately be up to the Egyptians to decide on a “political, social and economic system” that would ensure their well-being.

“We believe that human rights are a complete interdependence, which requires equal attention to political rights and civil liberties, and economic and social rights,” the Egyptian foreign minister said.

“It is the only evolutionary process in each country that reflects and takes into account its social uniqueness, developmental realities, religious origins, and cultural characteristics.”

US-Egypt relations

Egypt has for decades been the focus of US Middle East policy on Cairo’s influence in the Arab world, its control of the crucial Suez Canal and the country’s land border with the Gaza Strip.

But in the campaign for the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden promised el-Sisi “no more white checks,” which he held back. close relationship With Donald Trump before Biden. Then, in March, the Biden administration batu Other Western nations in rare public criticism of Egypt’s rights violations.

However, Blinken He traveled to Cairo in May, after the Egyptian government helped channel the ceasefire a deadly rise Between Palestinian groups in Gaza and Israel. In the call with El-Sisi, Biden also thank you Egypt for its “successful diplomacy.”

The Biden administration has continued to urge Washington to put more pressure on Egypt – which receives $ 1.3 billion a year in U.S. military aid – in its human rights history, however.

Among critics, the administration said it would do so in September retained $ 130 million In support of Egypt, el-Sisi will end the prosecution of rights groups and civil society organizations by releasing funds. He also demanded the release of 16 U.S. prisoners.

The announcement came when el-Sisi launched its National Human Rights Strategy, presented as a five-year plan to tackle abuses in the country. El-Sisi also removed the state of emergency that had been in place since 2017, giving the government broad powers. However, the legislation that is making its way into the Egyptian legislature would restore some of those powers.

‘Shared Interest’ Sudan

Seth Binder, promotion director of the Middle East Democracy Project (POMED), a Washington-based promotion team, has called on the Biden administration to take a more questionable view of Egypt.

“As the U.S. participates in this strategic dialogue, the administration must examine whether Egypt often acts against U.S. interests, starting with the support of Sudan’s military coup and maintaining one of the most repressive regimes in the world,” Binder said. Jazeera.

However, Blinken said Monday that the U.S. and Egypt have a “shared interest” in restoring Sudan’s democratic transition, where General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan disbanded the transitional government on October 25 and arrested other officials and political leaders in a coup.

The situation in Sudan will be on the “strategic dialogue” on the agenda, as will the ongoing Libyan conflict and possible talks on Israeli-Palestinian mediation, the U.S. secretary of state told reporters.

“The military takeover what started on October 25 has been dangerously unstable, ”Blinken said.

“Re-establishing a civilian-led transitional government is the only way to facilitate the aspirations of the Sudanese people who have shown considerable courage in the resurgence of the proclamation of democracy.”



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