February 13, 2011
Clinton phones regional leaders on Egypt
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton embarked on a round of telephone diplomacy Sunday, calling several top officials including India's foreign minister to discuss Egypt's transition away from authoritarian rule.
Clinton "is making calls to regional and global leaders to gain a shared perspective on Egypt, recent developments and the way forward," her spokesman Philip Crowley said in a message on his Twitter account.
The top US diplomat made calls to Greek Prime Minister Georges Papandreou as well as Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna, with whom she discussed developments in Egypt as well as his "recent dialogue with Pakistan," Crowley said.
And in a call with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the two discussed "Egypt, its impact on the Middle East and other regional issues," Crowley said.
Crowley said in a separate Twitter message that Clinton also consulted with chief European Union diplomat Catherine Ashton, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.
Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak, who resigned on Friday after three decades in power, and Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who departed after ruling for 23 years on January 14, both bowed to unprecedented waves of popular protests.
Leaders throughout the Arab world have been watching the events closely, wary that the pro-democracy uprisings might inspire similar revolutions in the region.
Analysts say that with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's downfall, US President Barack Obama's administration is walking a fine line in the Middle East by continuing to support calls for democracy while avoiding alienating allies.
Clinton phones regional leaders on Egypt
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton embarked on a round of telephone diplomacy Sunday, calling several top officials including India's foreign minister to discuss Egypt's transition away from authoritarian rule.
Clinton "is making calls to regional and global leaders to gain a shared perspective on Egypt, recent developments and the way forward," her spokesman Philip Crowley said in a message on his Twitter account.
The top US diplomat made calls to Greek Prime Minister Georges Papandreou as well as Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna, with whom she discussed developments in Egypt as well as his "recent dialogue with Pakistan," Crowley said.
And in a call with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the two discussed "Egypt, its impact on the Middle East and other regional issues," Crowley said.
Crowley said in a separate Twitter message that Clinton also consulted with chief European Union diplomat Catherine Ashton, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.
Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak, who resigned on Friday after three decades in power, and Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who departed after ruling for 23 years on January 14, both bowed to unprecedented waves of popular protests.
Leaders throughout the Arab world have been watching the events closely, wary that the pro-democracy uprisings might inspire similar revolutions in the region.
Analysts say that with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's downfall, US President Barack Obama's administration is walking a fine line in the Middle East by continuing to support calls for democracy while avoiding alienating allies.
AFP
