Udall Welcomes Partial Withdrawal of U.S. Aid to Egypt

Statement

Mark Udall, who serves on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on the White House's decision today to pull back some of its aid to Egypt:

"I am pleased that the president has taken a balanced approach toward preserving U.S. strategic interests in Egypt while making it clear that the interim government must honor its commitment to start on the road toward democracy. Maintaining our longstanding strategic partnership with Egypt is in the best interests of the United States and all of our allies in the region, and we must continue our efforts to promote peace between Egypt and Israel while ensuring that the Sinai does not become a haven for extremist groups that could threaten the stability of the entire region. But Egypt's military rulers must understand that crackdowns on dissent and continuing violence against its own people are not acceptable. The actions announced today by the White House provide an incentive for Egypt to hold free and fair elections while also protecting U.S. interests and vital partnerships in the region."

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