Date : 05/04/2012
WASHINGTON, April 5 (KUNA) -- The White House defended the decision to
release USD 1.5 billion in foreign aid to Egypt, on Thursday, following
meetings between U.S. officials and lawmakers and representatives of the
Muslim Brotherhood in Washington.
"We believe it is in the interest of the United States to engage with all
parties in Egypt and to continue to engage with Egypt, because Egypt has been
an important ally of the United States and has played a significant role in
the region, "White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
Carney did not answer why the foreign aid was released all at once, rather
than in tranches as some lawmakers had strongly lobbied for after the Egyptian
government prosecuted American and international pro-democracy workers.
However, he said the Obama administration is engaging with Egypt's new
actors "to try to work with them during this historic transformation in the
post-revolution era and to try to encourage them both to pursue democracy in
its fullest sense as well as pursue the kind of international obligations that
they've maintained in the past."
The United States gives Egypt USD 1.5 billion in military aid annually that
must be spent on U.S. made weapons and goods, including M1A1 tanks and F-16
fighter jets.
Separately, Carney acknowledged the Obama administration, including
national security officials, and lawmakers met with representatives of the
Muslim Brotherhood, saying "Anyone who has paid any attention to the
post-revolution developments in Egypt that the Muslim Brotherhood will be a
major player".
He defended the meeting in Washington as "the right thing to do" and said
the White House will judge "all of the political actors in Egypt by their
actions". (end)
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