Not everyone in Egypt was happy about the visit from U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. While Clinton’s Motorcade was departing from the newly reopened U.S. Consulate in Alexandria, protesters threw tomatoes and shoes on Sunday and shouted, “Monica, Monica, Monica” , in reference to a Washington scandal during her husbands first term as President of the United States of
America.
Clinton said she was in the city to speak with critics who believe Washington has taken sides in Egyptian politics.
“I want to be clear that the United States is not in the business, in Egypt, of choosing winners and losers, even if we could, which, of course, we cannot,” Clinton said at the ceremony to reopen the consulate, which was closed in 1993 due to budget constraints. “I have come to Alexandria to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the Egyptian people and for their democratic future.”
Outside, the protesters threw the tomatoes, shoes and a water bottle as the staff walked to their vans after the ceremony and riot police had to hold back the crowd. A tomato hit an Egyptian official in the face.
Clinton’s van was around the corner from the protesters, and a senior State Department official said her car was not hit.
Earlier that day Clinton held a closed-door meeting with the head of Egypt’s military leadership, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, whose military council is in a political tug of war with new President Mohamed Morsy.
Egypt’s military leaders took control of the government after a popular uprising toppled former President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, promising to hand over control after elections.
After this year’s elections, the military council issued a decree which stripped the president of a majority of power. Egypt still remains in the throes of domestic political chaos. The president has no Cabinet and the country has no parliament.
As she left the country Sunday night, Clinton said her two days of meetings showed her the Egyptian people “have legitimate concerns, and I will be honest and say they have legitimate fears about their future.”
Egypt’s fragile economy has been a top item on Clinton’s agenda during the trip. The secretary of state also met with business entrepreneurs affiliated with Flat6Labs, an organization that provides seed money, mentoring and work space to small Egyptian companies to help them realize their concepts.
“Thanks to all of you for being willing to take a risk,” she said.
In meetings with Morsy and Tantawi, Clinton discussed a U.S. economic package that would relieve as much as $1 billion in Egyptian debt and help foster innovation, growth and job creation, officials said. She also said the United States is ready to make available $250 million in loan guarantees to Egyptian businesses.
Tantawi told Clinton that what Egyptians need most now is help getting the economy back on track, one senior State Department official said.
