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Summary Hillary Clinton reaffirmed Washington's strong support for Egypt's democratic transition.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton threw Washingtons weight behind Egypts democratic transition Saturday in talks with new President Mohamed Morsi, laying out plans for economic help to the country.I have come to Cairo to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the Egyptian people and their democratic transition, Clinton told a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Mohammed Amr after her meeting with Morsi.We want to be a good partner. We want to support the democracy that has been achieved by the courage and sacrifice of the Egyptian people, and to see a future of great potential be realised, she said.During her two-day visit, the top US diplomat will also meet Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi -- the countrys interim military ruler after Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year.Clinton steps into the political maelstrom of a complex power struggle between the Islamist president and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that ruled Egypt after Mubarak was toppled.Last week, Morsi ordered parliament to convene, defying a military decision to disband the house after the countrys top court ruled it invalid.Democracy is hard, Clinton said. It requires dialogue and compromise and real politics. We are encouraged and we want to be helpful. But we know that it is not for the United States to decide, it is for the Egyptian people to decide.Clintons meeting with Morsi, a longtime member of the Muslim Brotherhood, comes after Egypts first free presidential elections following the ouster of decades-old US ally Mubarak.We are very, very keen to meet you and happy you are here, Morsi told Clinton as they met at the presidential palace in Cairos upmarket Heliopolmet district.With the economy in a shambles due to a fall in tourism and a lack of growth, Clinton outlined economic support to help Egypt stabilize its economy and to use debt relief to foster innovation, growth and job creation.She unveiled plans for $250 million in loan guarantees to Egyptian small and medium-sized businesss, as well as setting up a US-Egypt enterprise fund with some $60 million in capital.It was her first meeting with Morsi since he took the oath of office.Morsis decree was applauded by supporters who believed the courts decision to disband parliament was political, but it set off a firestorm of criticism from opponents who accused him of overstepping his authority.His decision was seen as an opening shot in a power struggle between Egypts first civilian leader and the Mubarak-appointed generals who wanted to retain broad powers even after they transferred control on June 30.
