Revolution in Egypt will remain secular and democratic - Professor Ali Fahmi

[Jmaxfie1]

Revolution in Egypt will remain secular and democratic - Professor Ali Fahmi

Many people are now interested in what effect the events in Egypt will have on neghbouring countries. Our special correspondent in Cairo Oleg Gribkov talked to a distinguished local expert on this subject and on the situation in Egypt on the whole.

“We talk in Russian with Ali Fahmi because the professor has an excellent command of the language. 30 years ago he defended his thesis in Moscow and often visits our country. Doctor Ali is the head of the Egyptian Association for Scientific Ties with Russia and Former Soviet Republics and the president of the Alexandria Association of Russian University Graduates. He is also the author of over 30 books.”

Doctor Ali believes that only Egyptians can understand Egypt in full. Egyptian experts have been feeling that something was brewing. But their foreign colleagues did not believe them.

Fahmi’s voice in Russian:

“Everything in Egypt was calm on the surface. I often heard from foreign experts that Mubarak was wise and in a position to control the country. But we, the Egyptians, could see that everything was boiling underneath. The majority of people live in extreme poverty, corruption reigns supreme and young people do not see a future for themselves. These events matured slowly, they were unavoidable.

What was unexpected for us was that the driving force of the revolution were very young and inexperienced people with no political backing. Now that the main aims of the revolution have been achieved I hope that these youngsters will be wise enough to understand that it is time to restrain their revolutionary ardour. It is time to start the painstaking work of reform because the country is in a very difficult situation."

Next question to Professor Fahmi. Corruption, police repressions and poverty are problems typical not only of Egypt. Tunisia has ignited fires in many places, with the largest blaze in Egypt. Next to it in the region there are lots of oil barrels, large and small. What’s the forecast about this?

Fahmi’s voice in Russian: "The Egyptian people’s characteristic feature has always been patience. We, the Egyptians, always wait until the last moment. But if Egypt has risen up, the same will happen in other places. Look what is happening in Yemen, Jordan and Algeria. Something is obviously going on in Syria and a number of other countries. It is happening for their internal reasons. But our neighbours have always looked upon Egypt as an example of everything – culture and public ideas. There is no doubt that the revolution will spread. The shape it is going to assume depends on each country in particular."

Doctor Ali is absolutely sure of one thing: the revolution in Egypt will remain secular and democratic. “Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, - he says, - congratulated us on the occasion of an Islamic revolution. But we did not accept this gesture and after that Christian priests conducted a special service in Tahrir Square. This was meant to show that the revolution is for all Egyptians, Muslims and Christians alike. Notwithstanding our respect for Iran, we are not Iranians, we are Egyptians and we will remain such”.

[Major Hogwash]

1. Boy, I hope so, it's the best way to go.

The last thing they need is some religious leader telling them he hears from gawd, like we had when Bush was President!!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. The last thing we need is another Iran

[Jmaxfie1]

3. I know

If the Egyptians freely choose to become a secular democracy I could see democracy take hold in other Middle Eastern countries.