Paper analyses Iran-Egypt ties following Sadat film

Text of report by Dr Seyfolreza Shahabi headlined: Costs of an untimely film published by Iranian newspaper Mardom Salari on 24 July.

After nearly three decades of break of relations between Tehran and Cairo, a few years ago, diplomatic authorities of the two countries of Iran and Egypt realized that considering the developments in Iran, Egypt, the region and whole world in the recent decades, cutting relations can not be in the interest of the two countries. Assessing the issue from any angle leads one to believe that resuming relations is in the benefit of Iran, Egypt, the region and the whole world of Islam.

In order to resume the relationship, which broke 28 years ago in a wink [very sudden and quick] based on the conditions of that time, dozens of seminars, conferences, formal and informal meetings must be held on the sideline of meetings between the officials of the two countries to break the ice and rekindle relations between the two states. Fortunately the recent efforts were beginning to bear fruit but suddenly with a hasty move and without considering and assessing the current conditions, the situation is back to how it was before. If the two countries, especially Tehran, do not manage the situation properly, things will become even worse than before.

Production of the film Execution of Pharaoh and its broadcast in channel four of the Iranian state television, gave the impression that Tehran does not know the rules of the game of diplomacy. Although Tehran announced that the film was produced by a non-governmental organization but broadcasting it on national TV undermines this claim. Especially, when all the governmental and non-governmental institutions involved in film production in Iran are monitored by the government, the Ministry of Culture and Guidance and various other government departments.

The fact that the Islamic Revolution of Iran's criteria for discrediting Anwar Sadat is because he signed the Camp David Treaty and hosted the ex Shah of Iran, does not necessarily mean that the Egyptian statesmen who inherit Sadat's bad reputation are of the same views. Is exhuming Sadat's tomb in the current critical circumstances - that Iran must have Egypt's support - in our national interests? This is while Egypt is making a similar mistake by producing a film in which the most senior official of the Islamic Revolution is being insulted.

The increased tensions between Tehran and Cairo; cancellation of the football match between Iran and Egypt; closure of Al-Alam [Arabic-language Iranian TV channel] office in Cairo; the participation of Mr Na'ilah Jabr, the Egyptian deputy foreign minister, instead of Mr [Ahmad] Abu-al-Ghayt at the conference of the foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement [NAM] which will be held in Tehran; Egyptian Al-Jumhuriyah newspaper's protest at the State of Qatar for accepting the name Persian Gulf and the active participation of Egypt in the Abu Dhabi conference on 31/4/87 [21 July 2008] where Ms Rice [US secretary of state] will discuss the Geneva meeting with the foreign ministers of the six countries of the Cooperation Council of the Persian Gulf as well as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, are all examples of the hasty reactions made by Egypt against the broadcast of the film Execution of Pharaoh.

Our national interests and the interests of the Muslim world require Tehran to have patience and prevent relations from deteriorating again and to announce its stance at diplomatic levels. Using sweet and attractive terminology in the foreign diplomacy is more effective than making retaliatory moves and provocative protests.

Source: Mardom Salari, Tehran, in Persian, 24 Jul 08, p4