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Mubarak--U.S. sought military bases by any means necessary
by Joseph Earnest June 19, 2013
Newscast Media CAIRO—Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that Washington wanted access to military bases in Egypt at any price, but he had been always refusing, local Al-Watan daily quoted him as saying.
Mubarak's remarks, posted online on Wednesday, were delivered during dialogue he made with a man who used to visit him in prison.
Mubarak told the man that the former Minister of Defense Abdel-Halim Abu Ghazala informed him once that the U.S. had asked for a military base in Egypt and he agreed.
"I replied: You don't have the power to agree, nor I. This land is neither yours nor mine," Mubarak said.
"The Americans wanted bases at any price," he stressed, adding that Washington had asked more than once for bases in the west of Cairo and Burj Al Arab near Alexandria.
However, he repeatedly responded that "the Egyptian constitution does allow it neither to Abu-Ghazaleh, nor to me personally. It requires the approval of the Egyptian parliament, and even if approved by Parliament it needs a referendum, and I ended the discussion here," he said.
Fielding a question about the role of the United States and Israel in what is happening now in Egypt and the Arab region, the former Egyptian president replied that all what matters to the U.S. is to ensure the security of Israel, and "they were for long putting pressure on the Arabs for this goal."
According to Mubarak, Washington also wanted to establish an electronic network for the armed forces, but he refused for fear of Israeli and American espionage.
"In 2006 or 2007, Washington had asked for F.M. frequency in Greater Cairo, but the then Minister of Information refused the request." Mubarak said.
"One day, I received the American ambassador who told me: Give me F.M. frequency because there is a $270 million aid to Egypt which is still pending in Washington for this reason. I refused and replied: keep it with you. We don't need it," Mubarak recalled.
"After fifteen days, they sent the $ 270 million… They wanted the frequency in order to spy and control everything," the ousted President noted.
As for his stepping down, Mubarak claimed that he made the decision without any pressure.
"It was possible to continue in office, but I decided to step down in order to preserve the lives of the people and prevent the bloodshed," he stressed.
Moreover, Mubarak refused to talk about what happened during the January 25 revolution, and said: "I do not like to speak on this. It has passed away."
He also refused to talk about the role of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in the attacks committed against peaceful protesters. Add Comments>>
Source: Al Manar News
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