Confidential "national security" dialogue goes viral in Egypt

Tuesday 04-06-2013 10:24 PM
Confidential

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi meets with politicians and experts to discuss a dam that may affect access to water - handout

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By Arwa Gaballa

Once upon a time, a confidential dialogue between President Mohamed Mursi and politicians on a national security issue was aired live without prior notice to the participants or the public.

On Monday, Mursi met with political figures and experts to discuss a report on the effects of a dam which Ethiopia plans to erect on the Nile River.

With the Nile River being Egypt’s main source of water, panic has spread since Ethiopia’s announcement last week, along with criticism of the Mursi administration for its perceived failure to handle the situation.

In the meeting, Mursi’s aide for political affairs, Pakinam al-Sharkawy, described the issue as “a national security issue that is related to Egypt's vital vein: the Nile River.”

"We can leak [false] news information, claiming that Egypt plans to buy more aircraft to increase its air navigation, etc, to put pressure, even if not realistic, on diplomatic discourse," Ghad Party leader Ayman Nour said in the meeting.

Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat, former member of parliament, suggested that Egypt stir up strife among Ethiopia's tribes; he later told a local newspaper that another attendee, whom he declined to name, suggested a military airstrike.

Head of the Salafi Nour Party Younes Makhyoun suggested supporting minorities in Ethiopia to pressure the Ethiopian government, cooperating with the Egyptian intelligence to demolish the dam if it poses danger to Egypt or, finally, forming a committee of experts.

Another politician asked the participants to pledge that they would not leak the information that was being discussed in this confidential dialogue – not knowing, of course, that he was on-air.

It was only then when the president informed the attending politicians that the dialogue was actually being aired live and nervous giggles echoed in the presidential palace's meeting room.

Oops. Egypt's presidential advisor forgot to inform political leaders that the national security discussion they were having was live on television

“It was initially planned that today’s national meeting would be recorded, as is usually the case, but due to the significance of the water security issue, we decided at the last minute to air the meeting live,” Sharkawy posted on her Twitter account on Monday.

“I apologize for any unintended embarrassment felt by political leaders for not being informed," she added.

Perhaps this is a good reflection on the state of confusion and maybe the lack of experience and poor planning of those in charge.

Meanwhile, bloggers and twitter activists seized the incident as a golden opportunity to mock Mursi and his associates.

Prominent activist Nawara Negm, for example, parodied the discussions which were had in the meeting, saying, "In all cases, we must fight the U.S. and Israel. Also, this meeting was confidential, so it would be nice if everyone who watched it could swear on the Quran not to disclose the information."

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