Egyptian Presidential Candidate Abd Al-Mun'im Abu Al-Futuh: "If the US Wants to Cut Off Its Aid to Egypt, We Will Cut Off Its Interests in Egypt"

Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian presidential candidate Abd Al-Mun'im Abu Al-Futuh, which aired on Mihwar TV on March 7, 2012 :

Abd Al-Mun'im Abu Al-Futuh : We will not maintain relations with anyone who harms the interests of Egypt. Relations must be to the benefit of Egypt. Of course, if we maintain relations that benefit Egypt, the other side also…

Interviewer : What is your position with regard to the US aid?

Abd Al-Mun'im Abu Al-Futuh : The US aid is not really aid. The US gives Egypt money in return for its interests in Egypt. If the US wants to cut off its aid to Egypt, we will cut off its interests in Egypt. That's it – tit for tat. That is an international principle – interests in return for interests. Diplomatic relations are not a charity organization. The US has not opened a charity organization out of sympathy for the Egyptian people, giving us 1.2 billion dollars every year. No, its aid is for the sake of its interests.

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Interviewer : Did you say that you recognize Israel, and that Palestine must recognize it as well?

Abd Al-Mun'im Abu Al-Futuh : I have not recognized Israel to this day, and will not recognize Israel. My refusal, as an Egyptian, to recognize it is part of what I believe in. I will not lie to the Egyptian people. But my refusal to recognize Israel does not mean, in any way, that I will impose my view upon the Egyptian parliament or upon the Egyptian people, or that I will impose what I believe in at the expense of Egypt's interests.

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