Hague: Egypt’s Upcoming Phase Defining Point for Region’s Democracy

Discussing the Arab Spring and the Revolution’s witnessed in the Middle East Foreign Secretary William Hague stated that he believed the future of Egypt would decide the extent to which democracy would flow across the region. Speaking to The Times Hague described Egypt’s future as the most significant piece of the jigsaw in the whole Arab Spring.

He claimed that the future of the Arab Spring remains in the balance, which the West will be working with for the rest of their lives.

According to Hague the fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime has not been mirrored in Libya or Syria, where violent repression has seen authoritarian leaders continue in power and it will take generation to work through the changes begun this year. He added “We mustn’t expect each country to be neatly done in six months since it’s not a computer game that comes to an end when you get bored”.

Progress for western states trying to influence the democratic awakening across the Middle East is frustratingly slow and Britain had expelled on Wednesday the remaining staff of the Libyan Embassy, in turn granting political recognition to the country’s opposition.

As a result of this recognition, Hague cited that Britain may free up Libya’s frozen funds assets worth £91?million to the Arabian Gulf Oil Company, which is effectively controlled by the NTC. The funds he said would help it to provide basic supplies of fuel and wages.

The Telegraph writes that following Britain’s decision the US is reviewing a request by Libya’s rebels to open an embassy in Washington.