Ignoring President Morsi, Egyptian Armed Forces Issue a 48-Hour Ultimatum for Politicians to Resolve the Crisis

By Hassan El-Najjar

Al-Jazeerah, July 1, 2013


The Armed Forces Ultimatum

The following is a summary, not a translation of the Arabic text (below):

The mass movement of the Egyptian people deserves a response to their demands.
The Armed Forces has a historic and national responsibility to respond confirming the following:

1. The armed forces is not a party in politics or governance.

2. The national security of the state is threatened, which forces us to act, in order to alleviate the danger.

3. The armed forces gave the political factions a week to get together and find a solution to the crisis. As nothing happened, the Egyptian people came out with this massive movement.

4. Wasting more time will only lead to more division and conflict.

5. This situation has created a moral and psychological burden on the shoulders of the armed forces to stop all those contributing to the crisis.

6. The armed forces give all factions 48 hours to meet the demands of the people (early presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as a new government).

7. In case the political factions fail to resolve the crisis, the armed forces will announce its own plan (future map) to resolve it, with practical steps involving all factions, including the youth who have been the dynamo of the revolution.


==========================


Egyptian Presidency Responds to the Armed Forces Ultimatum

The following is a summary, not a translation of the Arabic text (below):


In its response to the Armed Forces ultimatum issued today, July 1, 2013, the Egyptian presidency announced that the Egyptian state has transformed after the Revolution into a democratic, civil, and modern state, and that nothing will take it back to what it was before.

It also reiterated that the presidency started its practical steps towards national reconciliation, in implementation of the President's announcement during his last speech, in the first anniversary of his presidency.

The response pointed that the President of the Republic was not consulted about the announcement of the Armed Forces, which contained what may cause confusion in the national complex situation.

It has confirmed that the President continues his consultations with various factions for the purpose of the comprehensive national reconciliation, despite any announcements which may lead to disunity among citizens of the homeland, and may threaten the social peace.


==============================