The following is the transcript of Press TV's interview with former Arab League Ambassador to the UN Clovis Maksoud about the issue:
Press TV: People say they have chosen to remain on the streets. How long will it take before they manage to get what they want?
Maksoud: The leadership of the movement has to sustain its presence in Liberation Square in order to continue and articulate the removal of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
It is important that they maintain a significant presence [in a way that allows the] release of a little bit of normalcy so that people can both have a normal life and join the revolution. This is a difficult task. It might not have the same impression on public opinion and on the world situation as before.
On the other hand, the leadership of the revolution [should] spell out as soon as possible a program beyond President Mubarak ...
It is important at this moment to unravel some of the steps for transition [of power]; a transition that should have a new temporary leader with the authority of the president for three to five months in order that during that time, the constitution will be amended substantially to suit the democratic process ...
Press TV: People are holding positions against America. How would you expand on this anti-American position?
Maksoud: There must be a distinction. The American system of judicial values seeks to protect the revolution from the oppression that Mubarak pursues, because they do not want crush the revolution. That is very clear -- and very obvious -- and should be understood.
On the other hand, the pivot of the strategic objectives of the United States in the Middle East region, in particular, wants to frustrate the resistance movement against American hegemony in the region ...
Press TV: A leaked US diplomatic cable shows Israel prefers Omar Suleiman as Mubarak's successor. Where does that leave the Egyptian people's revolution?
Maksoud: Israel cannot dictate. This is a revolution against Israel too. They cannot decide who should come after Mubarak and Omar Suleiman definitely will not be a kind of a [viable] candidate in a free election.
What is necessary is a free election [in which] the competition will be between the Muslim Brotherhood, the leftists, etc.
The rebellion is also against the peace treaty with Israel, [signed by] Mubarak and [former President Anwar] El-Sadat.
A part of this revolution is going to project a new foreign policy whereby Egypt retrieves its historical role of being a deterrent function against (the) Israelis' expansions, aggressions, settlements and racism. That is why the foreign policy of the United States on the strategic power in the region is attacked by the revolution.
[This is while] there is a level of appreciation by large sectors of the revolutionaries of the fact that at least the US administration under President Obama and the Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, are openly advocating the administration to take place; but on the other hand, they hope that this revolution will not reverse many of the factors that have served the strategic influence of the United States and Israel.
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