EU welcomes Morsi as Egypt’s new leader
July 1st, 2012 - 6:11 pm ICT by IANSBrussels, July 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has welcomed the inauguration of Mohamed Morsi as Egypt’s new president.
“We congratulate President Morsi on his inauguration. This is a moment to celebrate the first democratically elected President in Egypt’s history,” Ashton said in a statement issued following Saturday’s inauguration ceremony in Cairo.
“We know that there are many challenges ahead and look forward to working with him and his future government as he leads the country into the next crucial stage of its transition,” she added.
Islamist Morsi was sworn-in before Egypt’s highest court Saturday, after narrowly defeating former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq in run-off elections in mid-June. He succeeded Hosni Mubarak who was ousted 16 months ago in a popular uprising.
On Saturday, in his inaugural speech before Egypt’s Supreme Court, Morsi, the former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing, pledged to defend the country’s republican system, sovereignty, independence and integrity, safeguard the interests of the Egyptian people, and observe the constitution and national laws.
Morsi, who has called for national unity and pledged to form a coalition government, left the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party shortly after winning the race. He had garnered about 52 percent of the vote in the June 16-17 elections.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
sd/vt
- Egypt presidential poll results to be announced Sunday - Jun 23, 2012
- Muslim Brotherhood seeks dialogue to 'save revolution' - May 26, 2012
- Islamist Morsi sworn in as Egypt's president - Jun 30, 2012
- No restrictions for tourists in Egypt - Jun 30, 2012
- Egyptians vote in presidential poll run-off - Jun 16, 2012
- Egypt president orders defence minister to retire - Aug 13, 2012
- Egypt passes constitutional amendments - Jun 18, 2012
- India congratulates Egypt's president-elect - Jun 25, 2012
- Egypt presidential hopeful wants Sharia law-based constitution - May 14, 2012
- Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi wins Egyptian presidency (Lead) - Jun 25, 2012
- Egypt court clears Mubarak aides for election - Jun 15, 2012
- Egypt polls: Muslim Brotherhood says it is winning - Jun 18, 2012
- US, EU greet Egyptian president-elect on his win (Lead) - Jun 25, 2012
- Mohamed Morsi wins Egyptian presidential election - Jun 25, 2012
- Egyptians vote for new leader - Jun 17, 2012
Tags: ashton, cairo, coalition government, first democratically elected president, foreign policy, former prime minister, hosni mubarak, inaugural speech, inauguration ceremony, justice party, mohamed, muslim brotherhood, national unity, new president, policy chief, ria novosti, shafiq, sovereignty, uprising, winning the race