Egypt’s parliament to vote on ending U.S. aid

March 12, 2012 - 15:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt’s parliament moved Sunday, March 11 toward a vote to order an end to more than $1 billion in U.S. aid, a reflection of tensions with Washington over the case of Americans charged with illegal activity by their pro-democracy groups, AP reported.

The U.S. was angry enough over the charges against the American workers that it threatened to cut off aid to Egypt. The measure in the Islamist-dominated Egyptian parliament, probably just symbolic, showed that there is considerable anger in Cairo over charges that U.S. pressure led to interference in the judicial process.

The move by the People’s Assembly against U.S. aid was sparked by the March 1 departure of six American defendants in a case of 43 employees of nonprofit groups accused of using illegal foreign funds to foment unrest in Egypt.

The 43 include 16 Americans, nine of whom were already outside the country when the case was referred to trial. One opted to stay behind. The rest of the 43 are mostly Egyptians, Jordanians, Palestinians and Germans.

The U.S. threatened to cut off aid to Egypt over the issue, but the departure of the six partially eased the crisis, the worst between the two allies in 30 years.

Even if the chamber voted to reject U.S. aid, the move could amount to only a symbolic gesture, given the wide powers enjoyed by the generals, who collectively act as the presidency. They would likely veto such a measure in the name of national security.

The exit of the American defendants set off a storm in Egypt, prompting many to accuse the ruling generals of bowing to U.S. pressure and intervening in the work of the judiciary. Egypt’s military has benefited the most from the nation’s close ties with the United States. It is due to get $1.3 billion in aid this year. U.S. economic assistance for 2012 is about $250 million.

In Sunday’s session, lawmakers complained the U.S. had no respect for Egypt’s sovereignty and called for a vote on a no-confidence motion in Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri’s government.