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POLITICAL SYSTEM

Type of Government: Republic

Constitution: The Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt, adopted in 1971 and amended in 1980, declares that Egypt is an Arab Republic with a democratic system. The Constitution further outlines Egypt's political system and defines public authorities.

Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at age 18

Executive branch:

• Head of State: President of the Republic Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK since 14 October 1981, re-elected for a six-year term in October 1999.

The government is the supreme executive and administrative organ of the State. The Prime Minister supervises the work of the Government. The Ministers are collectively responsible for the general policy of the State before the People's Assembly, and every Minister is responsible for the performance of his Ministry.

The Parliament may withdraw confidence from the Cabinet or any Cabinet member.

Legislative Branch:

• People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b) is the legislative branch of the State. It approves the general policy, new laws, the budget and the development plan. According to the Constitution, the People's Assembly is made up of 444 directly elected members and 10 members appointed by the President, who serve for a term of five years.
• Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura) 258 seats. The Shura Council is Egypt's consultative council. It offers advice and consultation, and proposes new laws and regulations to the People's Assembly.

Judicial Branch:

The judicial authority is exercised through four categories of courts of justice: the Supreme Constitutional Court, which is the highest judicial body, the Court of Cessation, the seven courts of Appeal in the various Governorates, and the Summary Tribunals in the districts.

Legal System: Based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions).

Local Government

Administratively, Egypt is divided into 26 Governorates, each headed by a Governor who is appointed by the President. Within their districts, local government units establish and manage all public utilities, provide services, designate industrial areas. Local Popular Councils are elected bodies that work closely with local government administrative units at various levels.

CIVIL SOCIETY

The political system is based on a Multi-party system. Law 40 of 1977 regulates the formation of political parties in Egypt. This law prohibits the formation of political parties based on racial or religious . There are currently 14 political parties, the most active among which:

• National Democratic Party (NDP), led by President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, is the ruling party;

• The Greens Party, led by Hasan Rajab;
• Labor Party, led by Ibrahim Shukri;
• Liberal Party (LP), led by Mostafa Kamel Morad;
• Misr al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), led by Ali al-Din Salih;
• Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, led by Dia'a-al din Dawoud
• New Wafd Party (NWP), led by Fu'ad Siraj Eldin;
• National Progressive Unionist Rally (NPUR), led by Khalid Muhi Eldin;
• Umma Party, led by Ahmad al-Sabahi;

FOREIGN POLICY

Objectives

Egypt's Foreign Policy is mainly determined by the prerogatives of socio economic development, the maintenance of national security, and contributing to the enhancement of regional and international peace and stability. Accordingly, Egypt's basic foreign policy orientations are:

• The enhancement of Egypt's regional and international relations in support of the process of socio-economic liberalization, structural reform and full integration in the global economy, which are seen as the best means to achieve real economic development. In that vein, Egypt was a founding member, and an active participant in the work of the WTO. It is also seeking deepening its economic relations with the major world economies through bilateral arrangements including the joint "Declaration on Partnership" between Egypt and Japan issued during the visit of President of Hosni Mubarak to Japan in 1995, the "Partnership for Development" with the United States of America and the soon to be concluded Association Agreement with the European Union (see also the Economy section).

• The active participation in efforts to create a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. Egypt was the first Arab country to enter into a peace treaty with the state of Israel in 1979. This treaty was based on the principle of "land for peace" according to which Israel withdrew from the occupied Sinai peninsula in exchange for normal peaceful relations with Egypt. However Egypt has always believed that peace in the Middle East, to be lasting, has to be comprehensive and has therefore constantly provided all the necessary help for the negotiating partners in the peace process to apply this basic formula, by which Israel would have to withdraw from the territories it occupied since 1967, allow the creation of a Palestinian independent state and recognize its political rights in Jerusalem. The Land for peace principle has also been the internationally recognized basis for settling the Middle East conflict as enshrined in Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 425, as well as in the Madrid process. On the other hand, the achievement of a stable peace also requires the creation of arrangements for maintaining security for all parties, including freeing the region from all weapons of mass destruction. It also requires the establishment of a framework for regional cooperation that would both stabilize peace, and enable the peoples of the region to reap its benefits.

• Promoting Arab cooperation in all fields, out of a belief in the increased importance of regional integration in an increasingly globalizing world order. In addition to the political, cultural and historical foundations for promoting inter-Arab cooperation, Egypt believes that such cooperation is also made imperative by the requirements of dealing with the challenges, and benefiting from the opportunities, offered by the globalized world market. Therefore, Egypt is leading the process of the revitalization of Arab cooperation, primarily through the creation of an Arab Free Trade Area as well as through increased inter Arab investment.

• Developing south-south cooperation through several groupings, including Africa, the Islamic countries, and the developing world at large. In this regard Egypt's priorities are: to promote the peaceful resolution of regional as well as domestic conflicts among and within developing countries, with an emphasis on the role of regional mechanisms and organizations in this process, to further south-south economic cooperation, both through the traditional regional organization (such as Organization of African Unity, The Organization of Islamic Countries, the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement) and through new more informal groupings (such as the Group of 15, the Developing 8).

• Fulfilling Egypt's responsibilities in furthering international peace, stability and cooperation through active participation in international organizations, particularly the United Nations, its peace keeping operations and its specialized agencies. Egypt believes that the current state of international affairs requires the strengthening of the United Nations to enable it to face the old as well as the new problems of international relations. This requires increasing democracy and transparency in the organization and, particularly of the Security Council.

1. At the invitation of the Government of Japan, President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Mrs. Mubarak visited Japan from April 11 to 13, 1999. This visit opens a new chapter for the existing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

2. On the occasion of the visit, President Mubarak and Mrs. Mubarak paid a call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan at the Imperial Palace on April 12.

3. President Mubarak and Prime Minister Obuchi held a meeting and discussed a variety of issues. President Mubarak also held a meeting with Japanese dignitaries and business leaders on how to further promote cooperation between the governmental and private sectors of Japan and Egypt. The accompanying delegation of Egyptian officials and businessmen exchanged views with their counterparts and participated in an economic seminar on Egypt.

4. President Mubarak and Prime Minister Obuchi underscored that the 21st century should be a century of "Peace and Prosperity." They also emphasized that the international community should hold serious and intensive discussions in preparation for a century based on fairness, tolerance, compassion and coexistence.

5. The two leaders expressed their deep concern over the stalled peace process in the Middle East on all its tracks. They also stressed the need for cooperation between the two countries to help achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, based on the principles of the Madrid Conference, notably the principle of "Land for Peace," pursuant to the Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 425. Prime Minister Obuchi expressed his commitment to continue Japan's contribution to the peace process, and appreciated the considerable role taken by Egypt in this regard as well as in preserving the stability of the region.

6. The two leaders called for the urgent and faithful implementation of the Wye River Memorandum in particular, and all other agreements reached between the Palestinians and Israelis, and they hope the final status talks will be resumed as soon as possible.

7. Prime Minister Obuchi reconfirmed Japan's support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the right of self-determination, including the right to establish an independent state and looks forward to the early fulfillment of this right. He also urges the parties concerned to refrain from any unilateral actions that might prejudice the outcome of the final status talks, including the issues of Jerusalem and expansion of settlements in the occupied territories. President Mubarak expressed his appreciation for Japan's active contribution to the Middle East peace process and its assistance for the Palestinian People. They renewed their recognition of the importance of Japan-Egypt cooperation in the capacity-building of the Palestinian people.

8. The two leaders shared the view that the negotiations on the Syrian and the Lebanese tracks need to be resumed as soon as possible. In this context, President Mubarak appreciated Japan's dispatch of a contingent to UNDOF as a contribution to peace in the Middle East region. President Mubarak also appreciated strong political initiatives taken by Japan, and expressed his interest in the Four Point Principles on Southern Lebanon. He also valued Japan's initiatives in the Multilateral Negotiations, such as the efforts made by Japan as the Gavel-holder of the Working Group on Environment.

9. The two leaders welcome the latest developments regarding the Lockerbie case and the suspension of the United Nations Sanctions on Libya. They expected that the suspended sanctions would be lifted completely as early as possible in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

10. President Mubarak especially appreciated Japan's contribution to Africa. The two leaders reiterated the importance of conflict prevention in Africa, including self-help efforts to this end made by African regional organizations. Prime Minister Obuchi expressed his appreciation for Egypt's role in Africa and especially in the establishment of the African Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution and the Cairo Center for Training on Conflict Resolution and Peace Keeping in Africa. In this connection, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Japan-Egypt cooperation aimed at enhancing South-South cooperation in Africa as stipulated in the Tokyo Agenda for Action of TICAD II.

11. The two leaders expressed their determination to strive further in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivery. President Mubarak expressed his expectation for the successful conclusion of the Tokyo Forum. Prime Minister Obuchi reiterated Japan's appreciation for President Mubarak's initiative to establish "A Zone Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East." The two leaders expressed their hope for entry into force of the CTBT at an early date. They also expressed their commitments to make best efforts for the success of the next Review Conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to be held in the year 2000, including achieving universal adherence to the treaty.

12. The two leaders shared the view that there is a need for a comprehensive and balanced strengthening and reform of the United Nations, including the reform of the Security Council, the financial reform and the reform in the area of development, to respond adequately to the challenges of the 21st century. They confirmed their commitment to make joint efforts to reform and strengthen the Security Council with an expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership in such a way that it would reflect the present situation of the world through a fair and balanced representativeness of all geographical regions.

13. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to free and fair rules supported by the multilateral trading system based on the World Trade Organization. Their objective is to reach a sufficiently wide-ranging and balanced agenda for the next comprehensive negotiations under the WTO, which allows all participants to benefit, and gives the appropriate consideration to the interests of developing counties.

14. The two leaders shared the view that the international community should strive towards the establishment of an international economic system beneficial to all. They discussed the recent vulnerability of international financial systems, and they underscored the need to enable the developing countries to be active players in the global market and to reap greater returns from their contributions to the global economy.

15. The two leaders underscored the importance of active and efficient international dialogue on the twin issues of global trade and international finance, as well as other issues related to international economic cooperation.

16. The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the recent positive developments in their bilateral relations reflected in the numerous visits on different levels, and they were determined to continue strengthening political dialogue between the two countries.

17. President Mubarak expressed his appreciation for Japan's economic and technical cooperation to Egypt, especially the grant aid extended to the Project for Construction of the Suez Canal Bridge which is jointly financed by both countries. The two leaders expressed their expectation that the Bridge would also play an important role of promoting exchange of people and goods between Asia and Africa, and one day become a symbol of regional peace and stability.

18. Prime Minister Obuchi appreciated that Egypt's economy is showing sound growth, successfully weathering the pressures from the recent global economic difficulties. The two leaders stressed the recent positive developments in bilateral investment and trade, and that this would witness further cooperation and evolution. In this regard, they welcomed the measures taken to reactivate the Japan-Egypt and the Egypt-Japan Business Cooperation Committees, and stressed the importance of supporting their activities to the extent possible.

19. On President Mubarak's State Visit to Japan in 1995, the leaders of the two countries issued a communique entitled, "A Partnership for a Better Future." Today, and as an embodiment of this Partnership, they decided to adopt the following program:

The Egyptian Presidency

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The People's Assembly (Lower House of Parliament)

The Shoura Assembly (Upper House of Parliament)

The National Democratic Party of Egypt

The Egyptian Armed Forces

Egypt's Information Portal

The Egyptian Cabinet

Egypt State Information Service

MENA (Middle East News Agency)

Al Ahram Weekly Newspaper