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McCain shares ‘disapproval’ with Morsi over anti-Semitic remarks
A bipartisan group of Senate heavy-hitters on Wednesday met with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, sharing their “disapproval” over recent comments he made about Israelis and pressing him to remain committed to democracy and human rights.
The senators met with Morsi, top members of his Cabinet and the opposition in Cairo.
In a statement delivered at a press conference on behalf of himself and six other colleagues, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he and his colleagues were all “early supporters” of Egypt's revolution two years ago and want to reinforce U.S.-Egyptian ties.
“We have come to Cairo with one major message: For us in the United States, especially in the Congress, the promise of Egyptian revolution is the opportunity is has presented us to recast our relationship with Egypt – to make it a truly strategic partnership between our peoples, our nations, and our elected governments, not one that rests narrowly on one person or one party,” McCain said.
Joining McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, were Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.).
The meeting comes at a time when Morsi is under intense criticism for pushing through an Islamist-inspired constitution and for anti-Semitic comments he's made in the past.
In an interview from three years ago, which recently came to light, Morsi called Israelis "bloodsuckers," "warmongers" and the "descendants of apes and pigs."
"We voiced our strong disapproval of statements he made a few years ago that have recently surfaced," said McCain. "We had a constructive discussion on this subject. We leave it to the President to make any further comments on this matter that he may wish.”
Morsi has thus far declined to retract those statements.
McCain stressed that both countries would continue to work together and deepen their ties, but cautioned that Washington would watch closely to ensure that Cairo continued on the path of democratization.
“America's ability to continue our partnership with Egypt, to maintain our assistance to Egypt, to get greater American and foreign investment into Egypt, and to build international support for Egypt – all of this ultimately depends on the progress of democracy in Egypt," McCain said. "Not just the outcome of elections, or the election of one person or group or another, but on the construction of an inclusive political system, based on the rule of law, that respects the rights of all Egyptian citizens, reforms and grows the Egyptian economy, and upholds Egypt's international agreements.”
McCain said the senators discussed with Morsi the importance that upcoming parliamentary elections be "free, fair, competitive and consistent with international standards, including the presence of international observers." But McCain said that matter would be "for Egyptians to decide," noting that the country was drafting a new law governing elections.
McCain also said senators shared "concerns" they had about the current Egyptian constitution on "issues of religious tolerance, women's rights, and the due process of justice for civilians."
The senators also raised the issue of NGO workers who are being tried by the government for their foreign ties, and McCain expressed hope the issue can be "resolved favorably."
