Tag Archives: Egypt

Egyptian mobile operator uses Berlusconi quote in ads – why?

As late as 4th February, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was still praising Hosni Mubarak, saying the latter should remain in place for Egypt’s transition to democracy. On 11th February Mubarak resigned.

So isn’t it therefore rather odd that Egyptian mobile operator Mobinil is using a Berlusconi quote for its advertising campaigns? The photo above is from inside Cairo airport, but the same ads are on some streets of Cairo too.

Are they trying to be ironic? Or are they just blissfully unaware of Berlusconi’s reputation?

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Ashton: you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

Foreign Ministers of EU countries are meeting today in Brussels, while at the same time protests against Hosni Mubarak in Egypt enter their 7th day. On his way to the Brussels meeting Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt tweeted this:

Very early from Stockholm to Brussels. Can EU really be a force for reforms and the rule of law in its neighbourhood? That's the issue now.
31.01.2011 05:51 via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite
@carlbildt
Carl Bildt

The right question to pose – but what prospect for any answers?

For the EU reaction to developments in Egypt has been somewhere between bland and non-existent. EU High Rep Cathy Ashton released two statements on Thursday and Friday last week, and President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy released a statement on Saturday. More from Kosmopolit here. These public positions do not go beyond a basic iteration of the need for non-violent behaviour on both sides, and for respect for human rights. Importantly there’s no mention of what should happen in Egypt, no way forward. Let’s not forget: Egypt is very much within the EU’s sphere of influence.

Presumably due to the lack of any coherence from the EU, Cameron, Merkel and Sarkozy did get together to release a statement on Saturday – it’s stronger in its tone, and calls on Mubarak to commit to the reforms he has promised. It also mentions the crucial issue of keeping communications routes open. These words from the leaders of Europe’s big three countries are similar in tone and direction to Obama’s statement on Friday.

So with three European leaders essentially jumping the gun and being more concrete in their demands, where does that leave the EU’s efforts to achieve a coherent voice in international affairs?

In all of this the vacuum at the very centre is deafening. Van Rompuy has many responsibilities, so the critique should not rest with him.

No, the buck stops with High Rep Ashton.

Continue reading →

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If I wanted to bomb an airliner…

Sharm-el-Sheikh Airport - CC / Flickr

Sharm-el-Sheikh Airport - CC / Flickr

…I wouldn’t do it if the airliner were leaving from the UK.

Let me explain.

I’ve recently taken return flights from the UK to Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt (to go diving in Dahab), and my parents have flown to and from Morocco, returning to the UK from Fez.

On the way to Egypt and Morocco we were subject to the normal checks on liquids in our hand luggage, and obliged to bin anything over 100ml, still in response to the 2006 transatlantic bomb plot.

But what about the other way around?

You can take as much liquid as you like (within reason) through security in both Fez and Sharm-el-Sheikh – I took 2 litres of water through, just to test it. Not an explosives check in sight, just a metal detector, and through went my water. Isn’t there something a bit odd about that, as there are some rather unpleasant groups operating in both Egypt and Morocco? If I wanted to bring down an airliner I sure would do it departing from there towards London rather than the other way around.

Then again there are all the fallacies of airport security full stop, not least – as explained by the classic XKCD cartoon – that you could do a whole lot of nasty things with a laptop battery, and with a glass bottle of whisky bought at duty free as well no doubt.

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See you in October

Fish and Diver - CC / Flickr

Fish and Diver - CC / Flickr

At 0727 on 10th September an Intercity Express will depart from Gare du Midi, Brussels. Via Düsseldorf Airport I will end up later in the day in the 35ºC sunshine of Egypt, ready for a week of diving in Dahab. From there it’s to Berlin for the inline skate marathon, to London for 3 days of training, then back to Berlin (and Pinneberg) to see how an election works in Germany. It’s one of the oddest journeys I have ever undertaken (how do you pack for diving, skating, training and watching an election?) but I can’t wait. I’ll post observations of the trip here whenever I can, and normal service on the blog will resume at the start of October when I return.

If you’re going to be at one of the places along the trip, drop me a line (or cheer me on from the side the streets in Berlin?)  If you’re a client then my UK mobile is the most reliable way to reach me.

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