"The children of Egypt, men and women." Mubarak started. He said that he is making a speech from the heart "from father to children" and that he takes pride in the protesters, that they are dreaming of a bright future. He said that "martyrs" blood "will not go down the drain." Following, that those who hurt Egyptian citizens will be punished.
This doesn't sound like he's resigning.
Mubarak |
Full coverage at Pundit Press.
He says he can find "no embarrassment at all" from listening to the concerns of the people of Egypt. He says that he will not take orders from outside. "I announced in very plain...words... that I will not run in the coming Presidential election."
He says that he has taken an oath before God and the nation to "exit the current crisis." He says that he will implement reforms "hour by hour." The interests of the nation will be safeguarded by the armed forces that he will "exit the crisis."
Mubarak announced that he would cede power to Vice President Omar Suleiman but keep the office of President.
Update: Here is the full transcript:
PRESIDENT MUBARAK: In the name of Almighty God, ladies and gentlemen, sons and youth of Egypt, I address this speech to the youth of Egypt in Tahrir Square and (Egypt's extended land ?). I want to relay my message from bottom of my heart, the message from a father, that I am proud of you -- (break in translation) -- who calls for a better life and who is committed for this change and who dreams about the future and make -- and making it.
I can tell you before anything else that the blood of your martyrs will not be wasted. And I can affirm to you that I will not be easy in punishing the people who have caused you injuries. And I will also hold accountable all the people -- all the people who committed crimes against you, and with the utmost punishment and penalties, and deterrent penalties.
And I can tell you, to all the family members of these -- of these innocent victims, that I have been pained for their sake, exactly like I have been pained. And has broken my heart also, and has broken your hearts. I can tell you that I will respond to your demands and to your voices, and this is a commitment that is -- that cannot be reversed. I am also committed and determined to carry out my promises in all seriousness and in all credibility. And I'm really very concerned to implement this without any hesitation, in a positive fashion.
And based on the -- of your own intentions that are just and legitimate -- (inaudible) -- mistakes take place in (any ?) system and in any state. What is more important is to recognize them, and to redress them as soon as possible, and to hold (accountable ?) the people who committed them.
And -- (inaudible) -- that I as the president -- (inaudible) -- I don't find -- (inaudible) -- I have to respond to requests. I am --(inaudible) -- and I will not (submit ?) to any -- to any foreign interventions or dictations, regardless of their sources and regardless of their excuses and -- (inaudible).
My dear sons and my dear citizens, I have -- I have told and -- (inaudible) -- I will not nominate myself for the next presidential elections.
(Note: In the following section the feed provided President Mubarak's remarks and the interpreter's at similar volume, thus obscuring parts of the English translation.)
(Inaudible) -- what (I/they ?) have done to the country and --(inaudible) -- for more than -- (inaudible) -- years, during the years of peace and war. (Inaudible) -- (I'm committed ?) -- (inaudible) -- committed -- (inaudible) -- in a similar way -- (inaudible) -- responsibility in the -- (inaudible) -- constitution and the --(inaudible) -- so that the powers (will be transferred ?) to whoever the electorate chooses in the -- (inaudible) -- through fair and --(inaudible) -- elections -- (inaudible) -- as (regarded ?) by --(inaudible) -- the promise that I took upon myself -- (inaudible) -- homeland, and I will keep this promise (until we ?) take the Egyptians through the (safe ?) -- (inaudible).
I have also presented my own vision -- (inaudible) -- achieve what the people have called -- (inaudible) -- for -- (inaudible) -- constitutions will not be undermined, and in a sense that will achieve stability and achieve the demands of the people, but at the same time will also lay out a framework for the -- (inaudible) -- transition of the -- of the powers among all the sectors in the society and in all credibility and in all transparency.
I have presented this vision, and I'm committed, in order to get (out of ?) this difficult time, and to keep up with -- by the hour also to -- for all the people who are concerned about the Egyptian people and the country, so that we can transform this into some type of reality in harmony and in consensus that will -- that will be implemented also by our armed forces. We have started a national dialogue, a constructive one, (in ?) -- that brought together all the young people who called for this change and all the other political forces. And this dialogue has resulted in some kind of harmony in some view -- in the views, and the -- (inaudible) -- put our feet on the right track in order to get out of this crisis and to go on with this dialogue, so that we can move on from the general guidelines of what -- an agreement to some kind of a road map that is very clear and within a very specific timetable.
Day after day, that will be -- that will follow the track of peaceful transition until September.
This dialogue, this national dialogue, has also come out with the formation of the committee that will study the amendments of the constitution and what should be -- and the amendment -- and the legislative amendments also. And we also formed another, follow-up committee that will also be responsible for the implementation of what -- of the commitments that I have made upon myself to the people, and I am also very interested -- committed to form these two committees of some very well-known, well-reputed dignitaries and some jurisprudent people and some judicial figures.
In addition to that, I -- the fact that we have lost some martyrs in some tragic events recently that have pained our hearts and that have also pained the conscience of the (homeland ?) -- I have also ordered some people to start investigation and to get the result as soon as possible to the attorney general, so that he will take the appropriate procedures and legal measures and (deterrent ones ?).
I have also received the first reports yesterday with the constitutional amendments that are a high priority, given to me by the committee that I have formed by the legal people and to study these amendments. I have also responded to this report and to the (suggestions ?) made in this report.
And because I -- (inaudible) -- in accordance with Article 89, I have also asked for the amendment of six provisions, Article (76 ?), Article 77, Article 88, Article 93 and Article 189, in addition to the abolition of Article 179 from the constitution, and also assure that I'm ready to amend many other provisions that the committee sees appropriate, depending on the need and the -- (inaudible).
And these amendments of high priority target the terms for presidency and the conditions for presidency. And we have specified the terms of presidency in order to transfer powers and also to supervise the elections in order to have a fair and -- fair and (good?) elections. And it also focuses on the legal -- on the legal part in order to amend these conditions and amend the constitution, but --(inaudible) -- to abolish Article 179, I think should also achieve equilibrium between the protection of the land of the terrorism and to also respect the freedom, the civil freedoms of (all ?) so that we can overcome the -- to stop the emergency law, the (validity ?) of the emergency law and to get the conditions in order to lift the emergency law.
My dear citizens, the priority now is to restore the confidence among the Egyptians themselves and the confidence in our economy and our international reputation, and the confidence that the change that we have started will not be retracted. Egypt is going through difficult times right now, and we cannot do anything and cause damage to our economy and losses to the economy day after day. And this would cause to Egypt a lot of damage, and the people who have called for change will be the victims of these difficult times.
These difficult times is not about myself, about me, Hosni Mubarak, but it is about Egypt and its present and for its future. All Egyptians are in the same -- (word inaudible) -- right now, and we have to go (ahead ?) with the dialogue that we started recently in one team and not be (different ?) about it, and we have to be away from disputes and so that we can get out of this current crisis and so that we can restore confidence in our economy, and so that we can have -- (inaudible) -- people and for the people so that they can get on with their normal lives again.
I have been, like you, a young man, and when I learned the military honor of Egypt and my allegiance to the homeland and sacrifice to the (homeland ?). I have spent most of my life in defense of its sovereignty, and I have seen a lot of wars, and I have seen a lot of failures and a lot of victories. (Inaudible) -- times, and I have lived during the happiest days of my life when I raised the Egyptian flag over -- (word inaudible). And I have confronted death in Addis Ababa and in many other locations -- (inaudible).
I have never succumbed to any international pressure or dictation. I have preserved my dignity and I have preserved the peace for Egypt, and I have worked hard for a renaissance, and I have never tried to have more authority. And I think that the majority of the people here know very well who is Mubarak. And I think it hurts my heart when I see and I hear from my own colleagues and my own -- (inaudible). But I know the junction that we are facing right now, but I am fully confident that Egypt will pass this difficult time. But we are also -- we have also to take the highest interest of Egypt and that Egypt should be -- (inaudible) -- should be the first priority over any other consideration.
I have delegated the vice president in -- delegated the vice president to carry out a lot of powers. And I'm very -- (inaudible) -- that Egypt will come out of this crisis and will not break its will and the the will of its people, and will rise on its feet again and stand up on its feet in all loyalty of its people, and will also get out of these difficult times.
We will prove -- we Egyptians will prove our ability and capacity to respond to all the demands, but through dialogues. And we will prove that we are not servants to anyone and will not be dictated by anyone, and that no will take the decisions for us, except for the -- (inaudible) -- and the demands of the people. We will prove that, and the determination -- Egyptian determination and in the coherence and duty of the people, and also in the reputation and the dignity and identity and the unique identity of Egypt, because this identity is the essence of our existence for over -- for more than 7,000 years.
This spirit will live in us as long as Egypt and the people of Egypt are still here. This spirit will live in us. It will live in every one of us, among the farmers and among the educated and cultured people. It will stay in the hearts of all the young people and the old people also, in the Copt and the Muslim, the consciences and the hearts of people who have not even been born yet.
I am telling you again that I have lived for this homeland and I am preserving its integrity. And Egypt will always remain -- the interests of Egypt will be above everyone else. It will keep on like that until I deliver this -- (inaudible) -- and the responsibility and the duties I have started the beginning and I will carry out until the end. This is the end, but I will be -- it will be my decision. I will not leave and will also be -- (inaudible) -- and we will be always dignified people until the very end, and we'll be -- we'll raise our heads. And we'll be always dignified.
May God preserve Egypt as a safe haven, and may its people find the right path. And may God, may peace be upon thee.
END.
Thanks to the Globe and Mail
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