U.S. Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his entourage has left Cairo Thursday morning after paying a three-day visit meeting with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and holding talks over the country’s democratic transition. McCain will be paying a short visit to Pakistan.
U.S. Sen. John McCain said Wednesday he has expressed strong disapproval to Egypt’s Islamist president about his past comments about Jews. Despite an uproar in Washington over the remarks, McCain said he and other congressmen will press for more aid to Egypt’s ailing economy.
A day after the White House strongly denounced his remarks as “deeply offensive”, a congressional delegation led by McCain met with Mohammed Morsi. Morsi made the comments in a 2010 speech, as a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood before he became president, but they resurfaced recently when aired on an Egyptian TV show.
Presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said Morsi told the delegation Wednesday that the remarks were taken out of context, aimed at criticizing Israeli policies, and not Jews. Morsi told them distinction must be made between criticism of what he called the “racist” policies of the Israelis against the Palestinians and insults against the Jewish faith.
Morsi told them the remarks were part of a speech against Israeli aggression in Gaza and “assured them of his respect for monotheistic religions, freedom of belief and the practice of religions.”
Morsi further told them distinction must be made between criticism of what he called the “racist” policies of the Israelis against the Palestinians and insults against the Jewish faith.
McCain said the delegation voiced its disapproval and had a “constructive discussion” with Morsi.
“We leave it to the president to make any further comments on this matter that he may wish,” the Arizona Republican said.
The delegation clearly sought to move beyond the unexpected diplomatic flap to focus on Egypt’s economy. McCain told reporters the congressional delegation will push for an additional $480 million in budget assistance to Egypt.
All of us are supportive,” he said. “We are working hard to try to see that this money is forthcoming.”
