Egypt's silly blackmail

CAIRO - Egypt will resend its ambassador to Algeria, recalled in November during the crisis around the qualification for the World-2010 if it obtains compensation for damage suffered by the Egyptian interests in this country, a government official said Monday.

•    "We are not sending back the Egyptian ambassador to Algeria if there is no apology or compensation for damage suffered by businesses and the Egyptian people" in Algeria, "said Mufid Shehab, secretary of State for Legal Affairs to the daily Chorouq.
  
     Tensions around the qualification for the World Cup, finally won by Algeria, has been marked by November 12 attack by throwing stones at a bus transporting the Algerian team who came to play in Cairo, during which three athletes were injured.
  
     The match, two days later in the Egyptian capital, was followed by violent incidents, and local Egyptian companies in Algeria were attacked by protesters while some Egyptians had their home ransacked.
  
     Incidents also occurred on November 18 in support of the match played in Khartoum, presented by the press and officials in Cairo as "aggression" against the Egyptian fans.
  
     The crisis took a turn with diplomatic protests in Cairo at the Embassy of Algeria, and the recall for consultations of the Egyptian ambassador in Algiers November 19.
  
     The Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit evaluated Sunday the damage to tens of millions of dollars, adding that Egyptian companies involved, including Orascom Telecom group, ask for damages.
  
     "Companies ask for damages and we hope that the Algerian government answers (these requests)," he said in a statement from the Foreign Ministry.
  
     Egypt hopes to resume good relations with Algeria, "he continued, however, saying the two countries were united by affection and brotherhood."
• Will Algeria apologize? Not evident. The Algerian people will never forgive the Egyptian media and officials for insulting their martyrs and  the symbols of the Algerian nation. Algerians will never forgive the Egyptians to have burnt their flag while the Israeli flag floats in the air on the highest buildings of Cairo.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.