| Date: 11/05/2012 Time: 09:45:00 PM |
Responding to anti-Israel comments made in a
recent debate by Egyptian presidential candidates, State Department
spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on Friday said US officials have made it clear
that they expect the Egyptian political system going forward will honor
existing obligations and have peaceful relations with its neighbors.
One of the candidates referred to Israel as an enemy and some called for a
review of the 1978 Camp David accords, which are part of the 1979
Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
"People say things in a campaign and then when they get elected, they
actually have to govern," she said during a briefing. "We want to see free,
fair transparent elections, and we want to see whomever is elected represent
the best interests of all Egyptians -- the human rights, democracy,
constitutional rights of all Egyptians".
US officials have told all Egyptian presidential candidates they have
spoken with that "we believe that it is in the best interest of Egypt to
maintain its existing arrangements and regional responsibilities with
neighbors," Nuland said.
It is notable that Egypt is able to have a presidential election and
presidential debates, she added. |