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Kurtzer speaks in advance of DoorKnock
U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, who has appeared several times
as a distinguished guest speaker at AmCham Egypt events, opened
his latest speech joking that he would "try to get it right
this time." The ambassador was addressing a March luncheon
meeting held at the Semiramis Inter-Continental Hotel as AmCham's
DoorKnock 2001 delegation prepared for its trip to Washington,
D.C.
While Kurtzer praised AmCham for its role in supporting
Egyptian-U.S. business relations, he also stressed the importance
of cultural relations between the two countries. In his three
years as ambassador to Cairo, Kurtzer has stressed that
Egyptian-American relations rest on four pillars: one military,
one political, one economic, and one cultural. "The
foundation of each of those pillars remains rock-solid," he
said. "But neither of us is satisfied with simply remaining
where we've been. We can and should do more."
In the economic sphere, Kurtzer noted, the last decade has
been a good one. Egypt's inflation and budget deficit have
fallen from around 20 percent of GDP at the start of the 1990s
to "low digits" today. However, in terms of improving
the policy environment, the picture is not so clear.
Turning to a key issue on AmCham's DoorKnock agenda, Kurtzer
considered the arguments for and against an Egyptian-U.S. Free
Trade Agreement. "Some argue that an FTA is necessary -
that it will lead Egypt to take the necessary reform
measures," he noted. But given that the new Bush
administration in Washington is amenable to
"fast-track" promotion of trade with key partners,
Kurtzer argued, "Egypt should take the initiative to reform
in advance of an FTA."
In particular, steps must be taken to improve protection of
intellectual-property rights, reduce customs delays and red
tape, overhaul the tax system, speed up the judicial system and
move ahead with sales of state assets. "Privatization is
seen worldwide as an indication of Egypt's seriousness,"
the ambassador said. "You need a high-profile privatization
in the coming six months, and you need privatization of the
financial industry in the next two years. Recognizing Egypt's
need to attract foreign companies, Kurtzer argued that "the
best ad for FDI is to solve the problems of current
investors."
Turning next to political affairs, Kurtzer noted that
"all parties in the region - along with the U.S. - are
reviewing where they stand." Highlighting UN Resolutions
242 and 338 as "the bases for making peace," he added
that "Madrid, Oslo and other agreements remain
valid." Not only violence but also economic pressures are
incompatible with negotiations, Kurtzer said, making an implicit
criticism of recent Israeli actions. As an aside "between
friends," however, he also expressed concern about
recurring expressions of anti-American and anti-Jewish sentiment
in the Egyptian media.
Turning to Iraq, Kurtzer emphasized that UN sanctions have
contained the Iraqi regime's aggression. Unfortunately, though,
"sanctions have become a tool for Saddam Hussein to use
against his own people." Yet the need to target weapons of
mass destruction remains.
In closing, the ambassador cited U.S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell's adage that "perpetual optimism can be a force
multiplier" and urged AmCham members to be optimistic about
the DoorKnock mission. Returning to economic issues in the
question period that followed, Kurtzer reminded the DoorKnock
delegates in the audience: "You have a story to tell, and
the numbers don't look all that bad."
The luncheon was followed by a closed meeting between U.S. embassy
officials and the DoorKnock team.
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