The
United States announced on Wednesday that it was “recalibrating” its aid to
Egypt, withholding Apache helicopters, F-16 fighters, tank parts, Harpoon
missiles and about $260 million in economic aid in a move to push the country's
military and interim government down the path to democracy. The decision came
three months after Egypt’s military removed democratically elected President
Mohammed Morsi from power — an ouster that Washington has refused to brand a
“coup,” drawing international ridicule. That determination would have required
a halt of U.S. aid. “We have decided to maintain our relationship with the
Egyptian government, while recalibrating our assistance to Egypt to best
advance our interests,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a written
statement. Washington will still provide economic aid that goes “directly” to
the Egyptian people in areas like health, education and private-sector
development, she said. And the aid freeze will spare military training and
education, spare parts for Egypt’s military, as well as counterterrorism
assistance and cash and materiel that goes to enforcing Egypt’s peace treaty
with Israel.“We will, however, continue to hold the delivery of certain
large-scale military systems and cash assistance to the government pending
credible progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian
government through free and fair elections,” Psaki said. Source (Yahoo News )
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
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