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THE ART OF PERSUASION
Since the Camp David Accords were signed in 1978, the relationship between Egypt and the US has been forged by a constant stream of new faces and fresh personalities, fortifying the friendship and bringing the two nations closer together. Coinciding with the arrival of the Obama administration, Ambassador Sameh Shoukry was selected as the new Egyptian ambassador to the US in late 2008, and has successfully reached out to Washingtonians within a mere few months.
BY AMANDA RIGGS
As soon as Sameh Shoukry arrived in Washington, DC, he hit the ground running. His diligent work ethic and down to earth manner has opened many doors with policymakers and allowed him to get ahead quickly.
When he speaks, listeners are captivated and want to hear what he has to say – a talent that is sure to prove useful as Egypt and the rest of the world strive to turn over a new leaf as the new administration settles in and stamps out its policy. The important themes binding Egypt-US relations are not new; they are well established and enduring. However, communicating them from a fresh angle to seasoned policymakers is the challenge facing the ambassador – a challenge that he seems uniquely adept to surmount with ease.
Shoukry is unwavering in his approach and passionate about representing Egypt. His confidence is grounded in his belief in upholding principles, which he notes he gained during his career in the foreign ministry. His assignment to Argentina reinforced his conviction that one should always uphold one’s ideals, and that there are certain principles “that cannot be in any way subjected to modification.” His faith in principle has become the driving force behind his will to action and his goal to advance and deepen the long-standing Egypt-US relationship during his tenure in Washington.
Multilateral negotiator Shoukry learned a lot from the time he spent working closely with President Hosni Mubarak. He served as the secretary for information and follow-up to President Mubarak from 1995 to 1999, the youngest person ever to assume the position. The ambassador remarks that it was probably the most defining moment of his career, and the one of which he is most proud.
He recants that he was able to observe Mubarak closely and acquired an admiration for his winning qualities, namely “his sharp understanding of political issues, his capacity for leadership, and his personal warmth.” Shoukry adds that “he is, I think, within that category, which is a shrinking one these days, of the true statesman.” Most importantly, the post provided him with rare insight into domestic policy and how the Egyptian government operates. He was able to diversify his understanding of Egypt’s national positions in relation to foreign policy, as well as broaden his career portfolio.
The ambassador has extensive experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. He has served at the Egyptian embassies in both London and Buenos Aires and acquainted himself with bilateral foreign policy. However, he has also spent much of his career in various posts at the multilateral level.
His first post was at the Permanent Mission of Egypt in New York as a counselor, where his hard-working character was put to the test. “I had to really do a lot of work to come up to speed [because] most of my colleagues serving on the committees were already quite experienced and versed in multilateralism. But it was a very important moment and I think it was a very rewarding one because it gave me a very solid background in multilateral diplomacy,” says Shoukry. He also served as Egypt’s ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna from 1999 to 2003, and later as Egypt’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva from 2005 to 2008.
The skills he would learn in the multilateral arena would later prove to be useful in numerous foreign policy settings. Shoukry says he was able to sharpen his negotiating capabilities, while drafting text, charting Egypt’s position on the issues and formulating compromises to achieve mutual goals. The ambassador also was given the opportunity to perfect his speech writing and public speaking talents. But what he takes away the most from these experiences is a sense of belonging and honor. “To sit behind your country’s name plate gives you a sense of representation, a sense of national pride,” says the ambassador.
Shoukry’s keen ability to communicate effectively in a way that resonates with diverse groups of people has served him well in Washington, DC. The ambassador has caught the attention of members of Congress who have traditionally not been favorable to Egypt. His tactic is always to emphasize the mutual interests; by confronting opposition in a “constructive and respectful manner,” he says, differences can be overcome. When asked how he is able to reach people, the ambassador says “the important thing is to speak with a degree of sincerity [and to] be receptive towards others... I think that always opens the door for greater understanding.”
Getting more from trade
Along with the ambassador’s confidence comes a calm and collected demeanor when he talks about the issues affecting Egypt-US relations. When asked which direction trade relations are likely to take, his reply exudes patience; he stretches out his legs and crosses one over the other methodically, conveying that he has no intention of responding hastily. The ambassador says that neither country should dwell on the past. He’s a realist and views trade in terms of the global economy.
“What I think is important is first of all we have a new administration that is dealing with a variety of very complicated economic issues, [namely] the financial crisis, which not only affects the United States but affects everyone, and I think that is the priority now for the international community,” says the ambassador. He sees the limitations to trade from a broader view and adds that “it’s not necessary to speculate what direction we are going towards now. I think what is important is to stabilize the [Egypt-US] relationship, find the points of convergence and work on increasing the dynamics of interaction.”
In Washington, free trade is a taboo topic and, despite past efforts, Egypt and the US failed to conclude a free trade agreement. From a practical point of view, the ambassador notes that the existing agreements – the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) Agreement, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), and the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) – should be expanded on and further utilized to increase bilateral trade and investment.
US foreign aid to Egypt forecast
Shoukry is focused on the future and sees US foreign assistance to Egypt as a key issue. When asked about foreign aid, he says he is confident that the program will take the correct course, and the half smile that frames his statements carries with it the implication that he has a plan but intends to execute it in a careful and timely manner.
US foreign military financing to Egypt is expected to remain steady and resolute, but economic support funds were decreased by half during the Bush administration’s last year in office, a decision that was made unilaterally without consultations with the Egyptian government. The ambassador’s response: “Egypt indicated quite clearly that that policy decision on the part of the last administration was not an acceptable one.” He insists that, in order for aid to be sustainable, dialogue and cooperation are essential.
In an effort to move forward on the issue of aid, the ambassador has prepared the groundwork for a sustainable policy he hopes will be mutually agreeable to both the US and Egypt. “We have initiated contacts to start a political and technical dialogue for us to develop an understanding of how we will handle this issue,” says the ambassador.
In line with President Barack Obama’s policy of reaching out and understanding other views, the ambassador notes that “the initial response from the new administration has been positive in its willingness to review the situation, and they have listened, and I believe absorbed our rationale regarding why we think that the last administration’s decision in this regard was not an appropriate one.”
He adds that Egypt’s dependence on aid has diminished over the years since it began reaching its development goals and economic reform targets. Decisions in the future, nonetheless, will need to be made jointly in order for both sides to be comfortable with the outcome, stresses the ambassador.
Economic diplomat
Issues such as trade and economic assistance packages are priority issues in many bilateral relationships, not just between Egypt and the US, and have created a trend gaining momentum recently where diplomats focus more attention on economic relations. “Diplomacy is [becoming increasingly] geared towards quantifiable achievements on the economic front because of its direct relevance and pertinence to people’s prosperities and advancement,” notes Shoukry when asked about the embassy’s current policy focus.
Following the ambassador’s first public speech – in Houston, Texas, last February – he was termed an “economic diplomat” for Egypt. Humbly, he considers the sobriquet an honor. “I certainly give the bilateral economic relationship between the United States and Egypt high priority,” says the ambassador.
Redoubling the peace efforts
Regarding regional political dynamics, both Egypt and the US have expressed a dedication to work together to further Middle East peace. The Obama administration has implemented several crucial steps that reflect its commitment to establishing a durable solution to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Most notably, Senator George Mitchell – credited with bringing peace to Northern Ireland – was appointed as the special envoy for Middle East peace, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the Reconstruction Conference for Palestine in Sharm Al Sheikh in March. Additionally, the administration has articulated its support for a two-state solution.
In the ambassador’s opinion, “we must remain optimistic. I think given the human suffering that has been associated with this conflict, we are all seeking its resolution. We are all seeking [a way for] the Palestinian people to achieve their aspiration towards statehood and for the region to be rid of this constant conflict and violence, which is a distraction from a greater emphasis on developmental issues.” Shoukry’s recommendation is that “we must redouble our efforts... Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
Optimism for Egypt-US relations
Although the Egypt-US relationship has been strong since the Camp David agreements, the nature and overtones of this relationship are shaped in varying ways according to the character of each US administration. When Obama was president-elect, Egypt “sensed a change in the atmosphere and a change in the policies of the administration, a renewed reliance and understanding of the importance of the bilateral Egyptian-US relationship,” the ambassador remarks. Indicators such as “Obama’s priority phone call” to President Mubarak and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboul Gheit being the first Arab minister to visit Washington signified a renewed interest in the strategic importance of Egypt to the United States.
Many US government officials were recently confirmed and are still settling in. Nevertheless, Shoukry has been active in making the right contacts and communicating with policymakers, noting that “We are at a very good time of this relationship and we, from the Egyptian side, are very eager to work with the United States and to further expand in this direction of mutual reliance, cooperation and understanding.” Shoukry certainly draws attention, and he is expected to make headway while in Washington to further the Egypt-US relationship. His effectiveness may be attributed to his love of teaching; if he were not a diplomat, he says, he would have loved to have been a teacher. “I think nothing could be more rewarding than being able to contribute to [young people’s] development, broaden their perspectives, and instill values in them,” he says. Reaching out to people in a manner they can understand is a talent Shoukry undoubtedly possesses, making him a true diplomat in every sense of the word.
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