Egypt’s relations with the United States are “unsettled” as the country struggles to redefine its national interests vis-à-vis other countries, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said.

GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION

Cabinet reiterates commitment to implement court ruling banning Brotherhood activities
In a statement on Wednesday, the Cabinet said it will start taking all measures to apply the court verdict banning the Brotherhood and its activities, after “receiving it officially.” They also announced forming an independent committee for managing the funds and real estate that are frozen at the financial, administrative and legal levels, until a final verdict is issued. The announcement comes after an earlier statement by the ministry of social solidarity, saying that the dissolution will be postponed until all litigation measures against members of the group are finalized. [SIS, 926/2013]

Muslim Brotherhood calls on UN not to recognize Fahmy as FM
The Muslim Brotherhood has called on the United Nations (UN) not to recognize Nabil Fahmy as Egypt’s foreign minister. It demanded human rights organizations, including the United Nations, not recognize Fahmy at the UN or allow him to enter the organization’s headquarters in New York. The Muslim Brotherhood also called on all countries and institutions not to recognize the current government.. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
Egyptian political coalition to visit former Islamist stronghold of Dalga | Ahram Online
Ban on religious parties will not prevent Islamists from engaging in politics: Bakkar | EGYNews (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic)
Free Egyptians Party launches popular oversight initiative | EGYNews (Arabic)  
Abou al-Fotouh will not be the Brotherhood’s candidate in presidential elections: Strong Egypt EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)
Brotherhood party paper says it was closed | DNE
Former jihadis back Sisi for president | Egypt Independent

COURTS & CONSTITUTION

Committee disagrees over military trials; Nour Party rejects drafting of new constitution
Magd al-Din Barakat, the Egyptian military representative in the committee amending the constitution has defended an article that permits military trials for civilians, saying that any rewording of Article 174 is a direct attack on the armed forces. The committee spokesman, Mohamed Salmawy, said Wednesday that the majority opinion of the committee is to completely ban subjecting civilians to military trials, but some members advocate simply restricting the use of such trials. The matter is still under discussion. The Rights and Freedoms Committee also debated the right for military and police personnel to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections, but were unable to come to an agreement. Meanwhile, committee head, Amr Moussa, said the first stage of writing “Egypt’s new national charter” will be complete by October 14. He explained that the draft will then be reviewed by the fifty-member committee, and they will hold public debate sessions on it. The activist group “No to Marginalizing Upper Egypt” and the Maspero Youth Union, a Coptic youth movement, met with the constitutional committee on Wednesday to propose several amendments to the charter, while Moussa met with the Supreme Judicial Council to discuss the suggested judicial amendments. Finally, the Nour Party reiterated its stance refusing the drafting of a new constitution, adding that either Article 219 must remain in the constitution, or Article 2 must be amended to state that “the principles of Islamic law the main source of legislation,” should be altered to the “provisions of Islamic law.” [Ahram Online, EGYNews (Arabic), Ahram Gate  (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), 9/26/2013]

Amended law allows Egypt courts to extend defendants’ detention indefinitely
Interim President Adly Mansour has approved an amendment to the current criminal procedures law that will allow Egyptian courts to renew temporary detentions indefinitely while trials are ongoing. The law now states that defendants in jail pending trial for charges that could lead to a verdict of execution or a life-sentence could have their detention extended for forty-five day increments indefinitely until the trial is over. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, SIS, Ahram Gate (Arabic), 9/25/2013]

Also of interest:
Criminal court to make a ruling in State Security officers’ torture case | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent
Safwat al-Sherif’s trial postponed | EGYNews (Arabic)
Mahdi Akif transferred to Maadi hospital: security source | EGYNews (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic), Aswat Masriya
Appeals by 200 Muslim Brotherhood members held on charges relating to Ramsis violence denied | AMAY (Arabic)
Conference held in solidarity with journalist Abu Deraa before his trial resumes | AMAY (Arabic)

ECONOMY

Central Bank economically reflects on Egypt’s BOP
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) stated that Egypt’s transactions with the world unfolded an overall balance of payments (BOP) surplus of $237 million, against a deficit of $11.3 billion the previous year, according to an official statement issued on September 25. “The drop in the trade deficit by 7.6 percent to $31.5 billion (against $34.1 billion), reflecting the 3.6 percent rise in merchandise exports to $26 billion (from $25.1 billion), and the 2.9 percent decline in merchandise imports to $57.5 billion (from $59.2 billion),” read the statement. [DNE, 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
Egypt rejected Qatari, Turkish requests to increase flights: minister | Egypt Independent
Trade balance deficit down by 7.6 percent | Mada Masr

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Students arrested, suspended for campus protests
Ten students said to be members of the recently banned Muslim Brotherhood were reportedly arrested on Thursday on charges of throwing Molotov cocktails at police forces as they tried to disperse their protest, said the state-run Middle East News Agency. The students, who reportedly attend Al-Azhar affiliated high schools and universities, were allegedly blocking Obour Road, situated at the start of the Cairo-Ismailia Road. Meanwhile, West Fayoum Educational Department chief Wafaa al-Besheihy has ordered the suspension of twenty-eight students for ten days for refusing to attend classes and staging an on-campus protest. Besheihy said orders were issued not to discuss political issues at schools so students’ study would not be affected. Ain Shams university students also staged a protest on Wednesday, calling for the release of Brotherhood detainees. [Egypt Independent, Mada Masr, EGYNews (Arabic), 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
Reporters Without Borders denounces detention of journalists in Egypt | Egypt Independent
Movement calling for Sisi to take over presidency without elections announces 946,000 signatures | EGYNews (Arabic)
Muslim Brotherhood’s night marches continue in Cairo and Giza | AMAY (Arabic)
Trains will resume service gradually | AMAY (Arabic)

SECURITY

Security operation continues in Sinai after cutting off communications
A joint operation between the police and armed forces continued in Sinai after authorities cut off internet and telephone communication in the region. Meanwhile an explosion in Sheikh Zuweid on Wednesday left four soldiers injured. An explosive device detonated near an Egyptian armored vehicle that was stationed at the Egyptian border near Rafah, security sources said. The explosive device was detonated by remote control, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. [Shorouk (Arabic), Tahrir (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), EGYNews (Arabic), Ma’an News Agency, 9/26/2013]

Also of Interest:
Police does not interfere into politics: Ministry of Interior | EGYNews (Arabic), SIS, Tahrir (Arabic)
2,000 artifacts stolen since 2011 revolution, minister warns | Egypt Independent

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Egypt minister says relations with United States unsettled
Egypt’s relations with the United States are “unsettled” as the country struggles to redefine its national interests vis-à-vis other countries, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said. Fahmy added “the US is also adapting to a new reality created by Arab Spring uprisings that have swept through Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain over the past three years.” Speaking about President Barack Obama’s speech to the UN, Fahmy described the statements of US officials at the United Nations on the situations in Egypt as ‘positive,’ at the same time, expressing his reservations, which include the reference to US aid to Egypt in the United Nations forum, saying that the United Nations is not the right place for a dialogue on aid. Fahmy also stressed that Egypt-US relations will not boil down to the issue of aid. Meanwhile, analysts believe the US has prioritized its ‘interests’ over ‘ideals’ in dealing with new interim government in Cairo. [AP,  EGYNews (Arabic), SIS, Ahram Online, DNE, 9/26/2013]

Egypt warning a ‘very dangerous escalation’: Hamas
Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy warned on Tuesday Hamas could face a “harsh response” from Egypt if the Islamist movement threatened the country’s national security. Hamas has condemned Egypt’s warning. Hamas Politburo vice Moussa Abu Marzouq doubts Egypt will carry out military intervention to support any rebellion movement in the Gaza Strip. Ahram Online, Egypt Independent , EGYNEWS (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), 9/26/2013]  

Also of Interest:
Brotherhood international organization meets to examine escalation against Egypt | Egypt Independent
Qatar supported Egypt not Brotherhood: Qatari FM | Ahram Online
Germany calls on Egypt to include Muslim  Brotherhood in politics | Shorouk (Arabic)
Sale of ancient Egyptian artifacts halted in Jerusalem | Ahram Online
Fahmy meets with the foreign ministers of Deauville Partnership countries | Shorouk (Arabic)
Sisi, Mansour meet with Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform | Egypt Independent, SIS
France to investigate killing of national in Cairo police station: AFP | Ahram Online
EU’s Ashton to Pursue Dialogue in Egypt | WSJ