Meeting Summary: Coalition of Egyptian Organizations Meeting, January 30, 2010

1.     Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim reported on his activities during his last 6 weeks trip.

·        Dr. Saad talked about his trip overseas business and privet. In Qatar attended” Arab Democracy Foundation” meeting

·        How government newspapers claim of him getting $200 millions from the gulf area.

·        In Spain he participating in International Forum for Democracy which promote freedom and democracy in the Middle East since 2004, It is  sponsored by G-8, where he also met with  state department high officials during this meeting.

·        Liberal Lawyers an Egyptian group had a video conference with Dr. Saad, Omar, and others. They express interest in joining the coalition.  They will work with full cooperation in the plans for monitoring the elections.

·        Dr. Saad graciously requested the coalition to take the lead of his idea that he wrote about of training and monitoring the next elections in Egypt with volunteers all over Egypt. Groups have formed on face book and between many parties and individuals. Ibn Khaldun Center had trained and monitored elections since 1995.

·        He suggested inviting the Liberal Lawyers to join the coalition. Members approve immediately.

2.     How Egyptians can insist on dropping article 76 of the amended constitution. Can the coalition make a different in Egyptian politics during the next two years election in Egypt?

·        Amin talked about how we can legally oppose article 76 of the constitution in addition to the other few key article in Egyptian Court and then internationally in one of the world courts. In addition, we need to make this article of the constitution the target of our activities to have it in front issue and tied it with the 2011 presidential election.

·                Dr. Saad explains that he already hired a lawyer in Egypt Mrs. Fatima who is capable strong lawyer with great stand to the corruptions. She has started court action regarding article 76, as a first step of challenging this article of the constitution.

·         Maria pointed out that the USA will not get involve in anything related to the constitution, considering this a domestic issue for the Egyptian to deal with.   

·         Suggestion to invite General El Shazly to run for the president position, the majority rejected the idea.

3.     Advocacy and the role of VDE.

·      Maria and Dr. Saad talked about the important of VDE of continue carry their activities as advocacy for our causes. They requested donation from each participant coalition organization to support VDE in their advocacy program.

·         Each participant organization will take own action.

4.     Review first year of the coalition. What we achieved? What were the challenges? Lessons learned.

·        To be discussed in next meeting.

5.     Do we have a clear vision and strategy? How are the relations between Organizations and the coalition working?

·        To be discussed in next meeting.

   Other business:

6. After Nag-Hamadi Raised by Cameel halim.

·        Cameel Halim feel that Many Muslims were very helpful during Nag hamadi situation, and we have to build on continue cooperation’s to reduce tensions and we can speak strongly as one voice against any hatred criminals or any of the government involvements or closing eyes on the criminals.

·       We should be carful of the Pope statement, and he is in a position now after Nag-Hamadi started to force to let Copts activities and discussion of politics in the churches.

·        That is the best to try to change the Copts support for Mubarak especially after the lessons of Nag-Hamadi.

·        Omar pointed to the important of the safety of the people who arrested in the Nag-Hamadi crime, because we need to know who is really behind what happened.

·        Omar also raised the issue of not letting Copts and Muslims made of supporting Mubarak as an issue between different religions, because we all believe that Mubarak is wrong for all Egyptians.

·        Omar suggested that we should ask the government to have the Voting Cards available to every Egyptian by sending them by mail, because people do not want to go the police stations to get them, many are scared of dealing with the police.    

   7. El Baradei article in Eldostor & the statement by Dr.M.H. Zaqzouq:

 ·        Ibrahim Hussein talked about ElBaradei article on January 27, 2010 in Eldostor. The important points he wrote.

·        Ibrahim ask to support ElBaradei points, which very similar to what the coalition wrote back in February 28, 2009 to President Mubarak. We need to issue statement of support.

·        Ibrahim also raised the statement by Minster of Awqaf (Minster of Religion Endowment) that Egypt does not recognize a Religious state.

·        Cameel and Amin pointed that this statement came to address the Europeans, and make them accepting the Egyptian government explanation to what happened in Nag-Hamadi

·        after voting the majority voted to send statement to support his words, to show that we support any right measured statement same as we oppose what they say.

·        The following statement was ready in Arabic:

با لرغم من سوء ادارة السلطات المصرية للمشكلة القبطية و الذى و صل اقصاة باحداث نجح حمادى فى مذبحة ليلة عيد الميلاد فى يناير . الا اننا نرحب بتصريح وزير الاوقاف والذى قال فية " ان مصر لا تعرف الدولة الدينية " ولذلك فنحن نؤيد تلك الصيغة التى لا تفرق بين اطراف المجتمع المصرى ونرجو ان تتخذ السلطات المصرية اجراءتها لتعزيز ماصرحة وزير الاوقاف المصرى.

 ·        The budget committee will be from Ibrahim, Abdel halim, and Amin.

·        The website committee will be from Abdul halim to work on the design of the website, Cameel, Omar, Dina Darwish, Amir and Amin.