Diplomat says Egypt wants to ‘reassure’ world

In press conference, Wafaa Bassim claims July 3 ‘second revolution’ was justified by Morsi’s failure to listen to the people

15 July 2013, 7:39 pm

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Egypt's new leadership wrangled over the naming of a prime minister, as both the Muslim Brotherhood and their opponents called for new mass rallies in July 2013. (photo credit: AP/Khalil Hamra)

GENEVA (AP) — A top Egyptian diplomat says her nation is working hard to reassure the world that the military’s removal of the country’s first democratically elected president helps — not hinders — its transition to democracy.

Egypt’s UN ambassador in Geneva, Wafaa Bassim, summoned reporters to spread the message that the “second revolution” on July 3 was justified by Mohamed Morsi’s failure to listen to the people.

Bassim said Monday that “what we are trying to do is send a message of reassurance” that toppling Morsi, who won the presidential election on June 30, 2012, after the 2011 revolution, was “legitimate.”

She emphasized in particular that the military had installed only a transitional government.

Bassim, a career diplomat, took on the UN post a little over two months into Morsi’s presidency.