| Date: 18/09/2012 Time: 11:19:00 PM |
The Obama administration is working with
lawmakers to move along a proposed USD one billion in emergency aid to Egypt
amidst angry anti-American protests in Cairo.
The State Department on Tuesday denied reports that talks have stalled on
Capitol Hill, saying it was "absolutely committed to moving forward to support
reform and economic restoration in Egypt."
The Obama administration has dispatched numerous envoys to Egypt in the
past several weeks for bilateral economic talks and has indicated it plans to
see the release of debt relief funds for Egypt.
"In the light of this kind of extremist and spoiler activity that wants to
turn back the clock, we think it is absolutely essential that we support those
forces in Egypt who want to build a peaceful, stable, democratic country.. and
that's what the assistance that the president has pledged and that we are
working on the Hill is for," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said
in a briefing.
However, according to media sources, no new aid is expected to be approved
for Egypt until after the US presidential election. However, the delays are
expected to be temporary and that there is no major reevaluation of US aid to
Egypt. |