Qatar Has a Very Active Role in Supporting Arab Issues, Amr Moussa Tells QNA

Cairo, January 16 (QNA) - Former Arab League Secretary General and Egyptian presidential runner Amr Moussa has said that Qatar has a "very active" and effective role in supporting Arab issues . When asked about contesting presidential elections and whether he had fears about ending his political life on a low if he didn't win the elections, Moussa said in his exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) published here on Monday, that he "didn't leave Arab League to run for the presidency" and that he " had already determined to stay in his Arab league post for ten years and decided to leave two or three years before January 25 Revolution, so the two events are unrelated." Moussa said that elections are going to be tough noting meantime that the days of winning 99% of the vote were left behind and no longer existing. "Winning 51% of votes are now enough for a candidate to win and feel that the majority of people support him," Moussa said. Expounding his plan to save the country's ailing economy, Moussa said that as much as economic problems Egypt has, there is vast economic potentials. "Egypt has a huge agricultural fortune, tourism, vast deserts, huge natural energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, peaceful nuclear energy and hydropower," Moussa said. Moussa drew examples of Malaysia, Turkey and Vietnam in economic successful transition as he said, "why wouldn't Egypt be one of these countries if it has such a rich and enormous potentials. China and India progressed because they knew how to manage their resources," said Moussa adding , "overpopulation shouldn't be a problem. Otherwise, how China could have achieved that enormous success." Elaborating Moussa said the Islamists landslide victory in the recent Egyptian parliamentary elections doesn't concern him. "When you choose democracy, you must accept its results. I have no problems with the Islamists' emergence and we must deal with these circumstances in a smart manner," Moussa told QNA. When asked about the democratic changes that took place across the Arab world and whether they were a newr Sykes Picot designed to divide the region and control its natural resources, Moussa said, " We must forget the term 'Arab Spring' because it's a foreign-invented term. What happened is a wide and great change movement fostered by badly deteriorating conditions especially economically." Monarchies will make the democratic transition smoothly, said Moussa reflecting on the recent Moroccan reform experience as an example. Referring to the political unrest in Syria and Yemen and the delay in implementing reforms the people of the countries called for, Moussa said, "The Syrian people aren't convinced with what is going on. Four thousand people died so far, and that is a huge number that no Arab citizen may accept." "No grounds justify this, including claims of a 'foreign conspiracy'. This is unacceptable, why would 4,000 people die? What for? Aren't they Syrian citizens and you are the president of this regime and these people? That is what made me stand against Gaddafi when a country's membership in Arab League was suspended for the first time in the the arab league organization's 60-year lifespan," said Moussa. Moussa added that international intervention in Syria may be an option if the Security Council's constant members agree on it. "I think the Arab League may think of sending Arab troops to Syria, and Arab foreign ministers and the ministerial committee concerned with the Syrian situation must think of it," Moussa said. On the situation in Yemen, Moussa told QNA, "President Ali Abdullah Saleh is his highly skilled at maneuvering, but what we must say is that change is definitely coming and the wheel of history has caught up with Arabs and certainly with Yemen." "What is good about clinging to power? If half the people don't want you, what is good about ruling? I don't really understand," Moussa added. Moussa said that the media must be open and accessible for everyone. "What happened with (Mohamed) Bouazizi means that all Arab nations are part and parcel of each other, and what happens in one place affects the whole Arab region," said Moussa. (QNA)