The Week in Quotes: Feb 5 – Feb 12

Egypt Today rounds up this week’s news and milestones By Kaylan Geiger and Alia Ibrahim Dozens Die In Football Violence Outside Air Force Stadium Violence once again marred Egyptian football after a stampede killed dozens outside the Air Force Stadium on February 8. Reports on the death toll vary, with the Health Ministry reporting that the death toll was 19, while the public prosecutor puts the number at 22 and the Zamalek fan group the Ultras White Knights claims there were “28 martyrs.” According to local news reports, fans where trying to enter the stadium to watch a match between Zamalek and Enppi, which led to the police’s use of tear gas to calm the overzealous crowd. In an attempt to escape the tear gas, a stampede broke out, which led to the majority of fatalities. At least 21 arrest warrants were issued by the East Cairo Prosecution for those who played a role in initiating the violence. Those detained were accused of attacking security personnel and vandalism. Family members of the fans who were killed outside the match will be offered LE 25,000 (U.S. $ 3,280) in compensation for their loss. Egypt suspended its football league after the devastating event, which is not the first of its kind. In 2012, fighting between football supporters during a match in Port Said killed 72 people. “The Presidency mourns the death of a number of Zamalek fans in the regrettable incidents outside the Air Defense Stadium Sunday night. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is very sorry for the deaths and extends his condolences to the families of the victims,” a presidential statement said. “[…] He is pressing for a quick probe into the incidents to determine who is behind them,” the statement added. The president also directed that “necessary measures be taken to avoid a repeat of such incidents and to provide security for citizens.” — a statement from the office of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi “Other disasters will happen over the coming days because a large segment of the population doesn’t want to wake up from its coma. […] The Brotherhood wants Egypt to become like Iraq and Syria, Libya also, but we won’t let them. And our relationship with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan is Arab national security.” — Zamalek President Mortada Mansour on Al Aashera Masaan “White Knights aren’t any different from terrorist groups abroad, and it’s clear now who benefits from the bloodshed, blood that was spilled yesterday in the Air Defense Stadium.” — Ahmed Moussa on his show Ala Mas’ouliaty “The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the decision to return the public to the stadiums, and the police forces in charge of securing the matches are the ones responsible for preventing incidents like this from happening, not the Football Association.” — Hassan Farid, Vice President of the Egyptian Football Association, on Sawt Al Nas “The FA is trying to evade responsibility and is refusing to do its part in a dangerous stage for the country, the Interior Ministry has been put under lot of pressure from the FA and the clubs to return the public to the stands. […] We are all responsible for these events.” — Major General Hani Abdel Latif, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, on Sawt Al Nas Russian President Vladimir Putin Visits Cairo Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Cairo on February 9 to embark on a two-day visit to Egypt, his first visit to the country in over 10 years. Banners and posters bearing Putin’s face were placed along Cairo’s busiest streets to welcome the Russian leader, who met with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to discuss bilateral relations and trade. The Egyptian-Russian relationship has been on the rise in recent months, with Al-Sisi having visited Moscow in August 2014 to discuss economic relations and military cooperation. Many experts see improving Egyptian-Russian relations as a sign that both are moving away from and relying less on the West, particularly the United States, for political and economic support. A ceremony on Tuesday saw both Putin and Al-Sisi sign several agreements and an announcement that both countries would join together in building Egypt’s first nuclear power plant. The biggest headline, however, to come out of the event was an Egyptian orchestra’s mangled version of the Russian anthem. Despite the grand appearance of the ceremony and 21-gun salute to Putin, the less-than-accurate depiction of the Russian national anthem was hardly recognizable and turned heads for the wrong reasons. While Egypt may have gifted Russia with an off-tune anthem, Putin also came bearing a much-discussed gift for his Egyptian counterpart: a Kalashnikov assault riffle. “We discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and exchanged views in depth on all important relations at this important time. […] We agreed on cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, and the establishment of a free trade zone between us and the EEU enhancing cooperation between the two countries. […] Continuing the cooperation between the two countries to support common positions and emphasizing military cooperation between us.” — Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi during the joint press conference “President Putin’s visit to Egypt, his first in 10 years, is proof that Russia is keen to deepen its relations with Egypt. The visit is to deepen economic and political relations between the two countries. Russia is a strong partner to Egypt during the current period, especially since it’s the largest country with gas reserves and the largest wheat exporter in the world.” — Mohamed Al Suwidi, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, in an interview with Youm7 “Russia’s position after the June 30 revolution was strongly in support of the Egyptian state and the Road Map, stressing the need for Egyptian-Russian relations to be based on common interests.” — Former Egyptian Ambassador to Russia Raaouf Saad during an interview on Ghorfat Al Akhbar on CBC Xtra “The warm welcome that the Russian president received in Egypt will cause some concerns for the American media and some resentment over this development in the Russian-Egyptian relations, which includes cooperation in all aspects between the two countries, whether technologically or economically and especially dealing in the field of nuclear energy, they always have doubts about using reactors in military operations.” — Former Ambassador to Washington Abdel Raaouf Al Reedy on Akher El Nahar