Al Ahram, p.10, (20-11-2008)

Our relations with India

By: Salama Ahmed Salama

In an earlier historical stage, Egypt, under the leadership of Abdel Nasser, and India, under the leadership of Nehru, had close cooperation and friendship relations. Both countries were struggling to gain freedom; achieve development; get rid of subordination and underdevelopment; and adopt independent polices that are not aligned to any of the ideologies or military allies which prevailed the world late last century.

These relations did not stand adverse international circumstances such as the fall of the Soviet Union and Berlin Wall. Hence, the non-alignment bloc broke up. After Camp David agreement, Egypt turned to the US. Meanwhile, India enhanced its relations with Moscow as the West imposed economic restrictions on India upon its first nuclear test in 1974. During that period, India witnessed great change as it built up its nuclear capabilities and food self-sufficiency. It maintained a democratic system that protected it against dissolution and sectarian strife.

Needless to say that at that time the Egyptian-Indian relations ebbed away. India adopted a pragmatic policy, while Egypt were involved in confused relations with the US and the West. India maintained balanced relations with all nations, which did not, however, reflect on personal relations that usually exists between political leaderships.

That is why President Mubarak's visit, the first visit since 26 years, is important. During the visit, he received Nehru Award for Peace and International Understanding, an internationally prominent award. On many occasions, the Indian officials have shown interest in the visit to resume the intimate relations between the two countries and upgrade them to the level of relations with China.

Recently, the Egyptian role in various international fields was said to have declined. For some analysts, the internal problems of Egypt and its focus on the relations with the US, Europe and Israel have weakened its role, although the Egyptian foreign policy have recently recovered through the important Egyptian efforts in Lebanon and Sudan.

The relations with India gain more importance in view of the stages of its political development as well as its successful stable democratic experiment. So, India represents a model to be followed. It is normal to be interested in India in terms of joint ventures and investments in industry, oil and IT; the UN reform; or addressing the food crisis and the international financial crisis. But, we, the Egyptians, can learn much from the Indian democratic experiment in terms of political parties, education sector, governance and decentralization. Given its history, degree of development and culture, India is closer to us than the western models which we are often incapable of understanding and applying.

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