Ashton in Egypt: Mission impossible?

The apparent failure of the diplomatic mission in Egypt of Catherine Ashton, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, leads the news in Arab media Wednesday.

“ElBaradei: Morsi is a suspect, not a political prisoner,” reads the headline of Saudi-owned daily A-Sharq Al-Awsat, reporting that Ashton was flown in a helicopter to the military installation where deposed president Mohammed Morsi is being held, but was not told its location.

The daily adds that the Muslim Brotherhood “continues to refuse to recognize the country’s new rulers.”

London-based daily Al-Hayat reports that the Muslim Brotherhood has quickly turned intransigent, demanding Morsi’s return to power following a meeting with Ashton on Monday, where it expressed more flexible positions.

During its meeting with Ashton, the Brotherhood agreed to accept Morsi’s ouster, as long as the solution conforms to the constitution, Al-Hayat reports.

“Egypt: Ashton’s failure gives a green light to break up the sit-in,” reads the headline of London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, reporting that the protest of Morsi’s supporters is expected to be dispersed within the coming hours.

“The European Union has tried to mediate in the political crisis over the past six months, amid growing Egyptian apprehension of American intervention. Observers believe that Ashton’s failure may provide the green light to a new strategy including breaking up the sit-ins and the use of arms under legal sanction,” reads the article.

External intervention is crucial, claims A-Sharq Al-Awsat columnist Abdul Rahman Rashed, since the positions of Egypt’s rival camps will solidify and toughen as time goes by.

“That’s why Catherine Ashton’s visit was important to test the waters before embarking on the mission. The situation is complex but is not deep or difficult to solve. Neither is the opposition, i.e., the Brotherhood, able to compel the army and the other forces to back down through demonstrations, nor is the other side able to force the Brotherhood to accept the fait accompli by assembling millions of demonstrators and bringing in tanks,” writes Rashed.  

Independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm reports that Egypt’s attorney general has requested guarantees from the interior ministry that no harm will come to innocent protesters as the pro-Morsi encampment in Rabiah Al-Adawiyah square is evacuated.

“What exactly is Ashton’s mission?” wonders Al-Masry Al-Youm columnist Mohammed Salmawi.

According to the European Union, Ashton’s mission is to solve the “political deadlock,” but there is no real political deadlock, claims Salmawi.

“The proper description of the situation in Egypt is that tens of millions of people revolted against the Brotherhood rule, which was toppled at the will of the masses and replaced by a new regime. But the Brotherhood, constantly hungry for power, refused to recognized the revolution of the millions and began protesting, vandalizing, and inciting for violence and terror,” writes Salmawi.

“If Ashton really wanted to cause a breakthrough in the deadlock impeding the implementation of the roadmap to the future … she should advise or pressure her friends in Rabiah Al-Adawiyah, and not those implementing the will of the masses by removing the Brotherhood nightmare.”