Jakarta, Jan 18/2002
(ANTARA) - The impact of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on the United States has
been felt by many countries including Egypt, Egyptian Ambassador to Indonesia
Dr Ezzat Saad El Sayed has said.
"More or less, like Indonesia, the sector
that has suffered most is tourism. But for Egypt, tourism is our main source of
income, which brings in a total earning of US$ 5 billion annually. Now it has
decreased by 60 percent. As you know, September to February is the peak season
for tourists coming to Egypt," he told ANTARA during an interview here
Friday.
Because of the drop in income, Egypt has run out of foreign currency and is facing a budget deficit, he said.
Thus, the country has called for outside help, he noted, adding that a conference of donors, such as the US, Great Britain, France, Germany, the Arab Fund, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, will be organized early next month to help overcome Egypt's problems.
The Arab country, he said, needs fresh funds immediately to stabilize its currency to keep the budget and to continue some development projects.
On the bilateral relations between Egypt and Indonesia, Ezzat Saad said their ties in the political, economic, cultural and social sectors have been very good and very close.
"I often go to the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry for an exchange of messages between the two governments. There are close contacts between the two (countries') leaders (President Hosni Mubarak and President Megawati Soekarnoputri)," the ambassador said.
Their two-way trade has been valued at US$ 220 million, tipping in Indonesia's favor.
Afghanistan
On the war in Afghanistan, he said, "We should not see the US military action in Afghanistan as an action against Islam and we should feel the loss of the families of the Sept 11 tragedy victims. Besides, the atrocities of the Taliban against women and minorities are against the values of Islam."
The situation in Afghanistan has become stable and there will be a Tokyo meeting on the country's reconstruction soon, he pointed out.
However, he said, there is still a growing concern on the condition of Taliban and Al Qaeda members captured by the US in Guantanamo, a US naval base in Cuba.
He said the prisoners should be treated as prisoners of war, as stated by chief of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Mary Robinson.
"Accordingly, they should be protected by the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war," said Ezzat Saad. (t/f01/B/h-cvl/B/B003)
Because of the drop in income, Egypt has run out of foreign currency and is facing a budget deficit, he said.
Thus, the country has called for outside help, he noted, adding that a conference of donors, such as the US, Great Britain, France, Germany, the Arab Fund, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, will be organized early next month to help overcome Egypt's problems.
The Arab country, he said, needs fresh funds immediately to stabilize its currency to keep the budget and to continue some development projects.
On the bilateral relations between Egypt and Indonesia, Ezzat Saad said their ties in the political, economic, cultural and social sectors have been very good and very close.
"I often go to the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry for an exchange of messages between the two governments. There are close contacts between the two (countries') leaders (President Hosni Mubarak and President Megawati Soekarnoputri)," the ambassador said.
Their two-way trade has been valued at US$ 220 million, tipping in Indonesia's favor.
Afghanistan
On the war in Afghanistan, he said, "We should not see the US military action in Afghanistan as an action against Islam and we should feel the loss of the families of the Sept 11 tragedy victims. Besides, the atrocities of the Taliban against women and minorities are against the values of Islam."
The situation in Afghanistan has become stable and there will be a Tokyo meeting on the country's reconstruction soon, he pointed out.
However, he said, there is still a growing concern on the condition of Taliban and Al Qaeda members captured by the US in Guantanamo, a US naval base in Cuba.
He said the prisoners should be treated as prisoners of war, as stated by chief of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Mary Robinson.
"Accordingly, they should be protected by the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war," said Ezzat Saad. (t/f01/B/h-cvl/B/B003)
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