Ikhwanweb :: The Muslim Brotherhood Official English Website

Egypt has traditionally played a central, strategic role and a significant cultural and historical weight, regionally and internationally. Furthermore, Egypt has a great national responsibility towards its sister Arab and Islamic countries, and towards Islam and Islamic issues. In order to maintain our national security we emphasise the need to restore the historic leading role of Egypt in the Arab and Islamic regions and the whole world. Hence, we stress the following:

1. Foundations and principles on national security and foreign policy

1. Maintaining peaceful relations with all countries, nations and institutions of international regulation, promoting mutual respect and equal relations, and supporting international peace, justice and security.
   
   
   
2. Respecting the principles and regulations established by the international community to resolve and settle conflicts between nations, especially with regard to non-aggression pacts, annulment of the gains of illegal wars, and the Geneva Convention to protect civilians and prisoners during wars, as well as other agreements and safeguards that criminalise aggression and its results which comply with the principles of Islamic law.
   
   
   
3. Respecting international law covenants and conventions on human rights, and reforming the United Nations.
   
   
   
4. Agreements and treaties between countries must be popularly accepted. This is not achieved unless these conventions and treaties are based on justice and serve the interests of the parties concerned. Those parties are then obliged to commit to texts of such conventions honestly and accurately. International law permits the parties involved in agreements and treaties to review the details of any such agreements and treaties held between them, in light of the above conditions.
   
   
   
5. We will endeavour to achieve Arab and Islamic unity as an important goal, gradually, in a carefully studied approach, compatible with the popular will, while safeguarding national security.   
   
   
   

2. Axis of national security protection

1. Protecting the Egyptian regime, institutions, people and cultural values, strengthening our national unity, developing the overall strength of the state, and supporting its effectiveness at the regional and international levels.
   
   
   
2. Re-planning urban and population layout of the state in general, and in Sinai in particular, and using Egyptian lands, wealth and resources in a scientific and practical approach, to serve national security strategies.
   
   
   
3. Contributing to shaping the international cultural framework with our cultural and civilizational heritage and resources, strengthening relations with emerging non-colonial powers, and establishing balanced, mutual relations with traditional and major powers…
   
   
   
4. Supporting the armed forces with manpower and weapons to protect the homeland and deter enemies.
   
   
   
5. Supporting and revitalising the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the African Union, to achieve their objectives, endeavouring to solve the Palestinian in a manner consistent with the Arab-Islamic perspective, and supporting the people in their struggle for freedom.
   
   
   

Therefore, we seek to play an active and influential part on several levels:

1. At the level of Arab states:

-       Supporting Egypt to play its real role in revitalising the Arab League, by reconsidering its charter, and supporting its plans and mechanisms for integration and joint Arab action in all areas, not only the security area.

-       Playing an active role in supporting the Arab revolutions, leaning towards the right of all peoples in their legitimate demands for freedom, justice, development, security, dignity, Shura (democratic/Islamic consultation) and their national independence from any foreign interference, and maintaining the integrity of Arab nations’ territories.

-       Affirming the right of the Palestinian people to liberate their land, and highlighting the duty of governments and peoples of Arab and Muslim countries, especially Egypt, to aid and support the Palestinian people and the Palestinian resistance against the Zionist usurpers of their homeland.

-       Providing all means of support for the Iraqi people until the last soldier of the U.S. occupation departs, until Iraq’s national decisions are free from foreign interference, until Iraqi safety and territorial integrity are secured, and until Iraq is rid of violence and sectarian strife.

-       Endeavouring to achieve full integration and cooperation in all fields with Sudan in order to ensure its safety and territorial integrity and achieve security, stability and development, including the activation of the Four Freedoms Agreement, so that we can attain true unity as a nucleus for achieving historically desired Arab unity.

2. At the level of African countries:

-       Revitalising the Egyptian role in Africa, while giving priority to relations and cooperation with Nile Basin countries, particularly Ethiopia and southern Sudan to a level fit for Egypt’s status and for fully serving its interests and national security.

-       Boosting volume of trade exchange with African countries.

-       Establishing joint investment projects.

-       Playing an active role in solving conflicts between these countries, or amongst tribes and ethnicities within a single country.

-       Forging closer political cultural and educational links and relations with these countries.

-       Securing Egypt's quota of Nile water and defeat Israeli plots in this regard.

3. At the level of Islamic countries:

We appreciate the importance of restoring the role of Egypt in the Islamic domain and the need to strengthen relations with Islamic countries, especially Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, etc. Here, we seek to activate and investment in the Group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries (D-8) – formed during the government of Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan in 1997 – and to support and revitalise the role of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

4. At the level of international relations:

In addition to the need for taking a leading position on the regional front, we emphasise the importance and necessity of continuing effective work in international relations in terms of our commitment to achieve and strengthen friendly relations with all countries of the world as well as with international organisations, provided these relations are based upon equality, mutual respect and common interests. We also support any initiative to empower and revitalise those organisations to uphold justice and maintain international peace and security, away from foreign hegemony and interference in the internal affairs of any state. We categorically reject occupation by forces of any state or group of states of the territory of another state, or theft of another state’s wealth, or threatening another state’s security and national peace. In this context, we must endeavour for Egypt's independent and leading role in building excellent relations with various countries, blocs and organisations, such as: The United Nations, the Security Council, countries of the African Union, the United States and Europe, countries of South and East Asia, Russia and the republics of Central Asia, and Latin America.

See FJP's full program for Egypt's Parliamentary Elections, 2011