UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Egyptians on Friday to avoid violence in favor of dialogue to lessen tensions between ousted president Mohamed Morsi’s supporters and the interim government.
Ban is “deeply concerned” by Egypt’s political deadlock but “applauds the deep courage and commitment of the Egyptian people” to peaceful change, according to the Daily Star. A large number of Egyptian protests since 2011 have been sit-ins.
“Yet in light of current tensions and given the risk of potential violence, the secretary-general also believes it is of critical importance that all sides in Egypt – those in positions of authority as well as those protesting in the street – should urgently reconsider their current actions and language,” said Ban.
Though Moon is confident “that the Egyptian people, representing one of the world's great and historic civilizations, will successfully find a way forward,” chances of the country’s leaders engaging in successful negotiations seemed slim after a failed mediation by U.S. officials.
The recent attempt by U.S. diplomats, including Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, sent mixed messages to many Egyptians, the State reports. While the Obama administration has refused to label the Egyptian military revolution a “coup,” McCain used this controversial terminology to describe the July 3 removal of the Egyptian president, exacerbating the already mixed messages from the U.S.
The U.S. government’s choice to not officially call the ousting a “coup” means that the $1.3 billion in annual support to Egypt continues, implying a general support for Egypt’s interim government. However, the Obama administration has a history of friendship with the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi, whose government previously received the same financial assistance.
Image: WikiCommons
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