Egypt disowns FJP leader's anti-UAE remark

Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil disowned here on Wednesday recent comments by a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Vice-Chairman of the FJP Esam El-Erian told the upper house of parliament, the Shura Council, on Monday that "Egypt has lost its patience" over 11 Egyptians detained in the UAE since December for allegedly threatening the Gulf nation's national security. "Tell the UAE that nuclear Iran is coming, the Persians are coming, not the Egyptians, and you will become slaves of the Persians," El Erian said. Responding to a relevant question during a news conference following a mini-cabinet meeting presided over by President Mohammad Morsi, the Egyptian prime minister said: "The UAE is a sisterly country. We should not care about unofficial remarks from Egypt, as there are also unofficial statements coming from the UAE." "We hope that the UAE, in its turn, would not care about unofficial remarks, " he said, dismissing reports on differences between Egypt and the UAE. On protests due in Egypt on June 30, he said his government would work with all parties involved in order to ensure non-violent demonstrations and avoid potential violence. "A peaceful demonstration is a right that is enshrined in the constitution, but a genuine change should find its way through ballot boxes," Qandil reminded. All state facilities and public and private properties would be protected, and strict security measures will be taken around prisons and police stations nationwide, he vowed. However, he denied any plan by his government to impose a state of emergency in the country in anticipation of violence and unrest during June 30 protests. He added that the mini-cabinet meeting had approved a plan to develop Sinai Peninsula for 2013-2014, estimating targeted total investment spending at 4.4 billion Egyptian pounds.