Ongoing negotiations surrounding President Obama’s recently pledged US$2 billion aid to Egypt suffer from disagreements between Cairo and Washington. While the Washington insists on subsidizing civil society organizations directly “without approval from the Egyptian government,” Cairo rejects this position and demands that Washington reveal details about $42 million it disbursed to Egyptian organizations during the month of June.
While American negotiators are trying to impose a fait accompli upon Egypt, Egyptian negotiators have received clear instructions not to give in, said an anonymous official from Egypt's Ministry of International Cooperation. According to the source, a key Egyptian negotiator described the conditions as “unacceptable,” an indication that Egypt may reject the American aid out concern for protecting Egypt’s sovereign rights.
Official negotiations between the two sides began at the end of June. Minister of International Cooperation Faizal Abu Naga heads the Egyptian delegation, while Special Assistant to the President for Economic Affairs David Lipton and Under Secretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns head the American delegation.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
