U.S. Senators Visiting Cairo Concerned Over NGO Investigation

A delegation of five senators, led by Arizona Republican and former presidential candidate John McCain, met with Egyptian officials during their visit to Cairo.

 

Included in the visit was the head of Egypt's Armed Forces and de facto head of state, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.

                            

43 accused, including 20 Americans, are set to go on trial next Sunday, charged with working in the country without proper legal registration.

              

But it was the NGO prosecutions that were the focus of the Senators' attentions.

 

[John McCain, Senator From Arizona]:          

"As we follow the debate here in Egypt, we hear it said that these NGOs are violating Egyptian sovereignty and meddling in this country's internal affairs. Nothing could be further from the truth."

            

Egyptian investigators raided the offices of civil society groups on December 29, confiscating computers and other equipment and seizing cash and documents.

              

The American defendants have been banned from leaving Egypt and some have taken refuge in the U.S. embassy. 

 

McCain says the focus is on finding a solution.

 

[John McCain, Senator from Arizona]:               

"What we are seeking, and what all of our meetings today was mutuality of interest, common cause, and our support in this very difficult transition to democracy."

             

Egyptian government officials, most notably International Cooperation Minister Fayza Aboul Naga, have suggested that the US NGOs were trying to sow chaos in Egypt.

 

That upset one senator.

 

[Lindsey Graham, Senator from South Carolina]:       

"This [the NGO prosecution] was a politically-motivated action. The person who brought this forward I think has an agenda that is not helpful. And as an American I am offended that people would say things about these organizations. I'm on the board of IRI. I can assure you it is not the goal of this organization, or NDI, or the American people to become spies and divide up a sovereign nation. That's ridiculous."

 

The spat complicates Washington's efforts to establish relations with the newly established military council in Egypt.