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U.S. expresses concern over anti-Americanism in Egypt

11 August 2011 02:07 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The United States on Wednesday expressed concern over the anti-American sentiment in Egypt, calling it "unfair", APA reports siting Xinhua.

"Let me say with regard to this kind of anti-Americanism that’s creeping into the Egyptian public discourse, we are concerned," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

"We have expressed these concerns to the Egyptian government," she told reporters at a regular press briefing.

She was responding to a press report carried by the Wall Street Journal, which said that the ruling Egyptian military is increasingly portraying pro-democracy activists as spies and saboteurs, blaming the country’s economic crisis and sectarian strife on foreign infiltrators, and blasting the U.S. for funding agents of change.

"Egyptian generals have repeatedly condemned as traitors nongovernment organizations that accept American money, and Cairo prosecutors have started an inquiry into these NGOs," the paper said.

"We think this kind of representation of the United States is not only inaccurate, it’s unfair," Nuland said, adding that the U. S. is "very strong supporters of Egypt’s transition to a democratic future," and will "continue to be there" for the most populous Arab state.

The U.S. wants Tunisia and Egypt, the first two Arab states that toppled their long-time leaders in anti-government demonstrations earlier this year, to "set a strong example through free and fair elections, a vibrant civil society, accountable and effective democratic institutions, and responsible regional leadership," as President Barack Obama put it in a speech on May 19.

The U.S. has distributed some 40 million dollars to fund Egypt’ s democratic transition and civil society.

The Wall Street Journal said the Egyptian military recently announced that it would not allow Western observers during the parliamentary elections scheduled for November, on the grounds that such a presence would violate Egyptian sovereignty.

The paper said that greeting U.S. Ambassador to Cairo Anne Patterson the week of her arrival in Cairo, the July 31 issue of the state-run news magazine October featured on its cover a depiction of the ambassador using blazing U.S. cash to ignite a bundle of dynamite wrapped in an American flag and planted in Tahrir Square, center of the anti-government demonstrations.

And the title was "Ambassador From Hell Is Setting Tahrir on Fire," the paper said.

"With regard to the personal attacks on Ambassador Patterson, they are unacceptable, as you know," Nuland said, calling her "one of our finest, most respected, most experienced ambassadors around the world."

"And she is in Egypt to represent U.S. policy and the American people’s aspiration to support a strong, democratic, prosperous Egypt," she added.