Interview with ABC News Radio

Subject: Unrest in Egypt

Transcript, E&OE, proof only

1 February 2011

HOST: Let's stay in Egypt then. Cairo Airport is a chaotic scene at the moment with thousands of foreigners trying to get out of the country and countries around the world, including Australia, are scrambling to send in planes.

For the latest on the rescue flight and the growing protest in Egypt, Kevin Rudd is joining us, the Foreign Minister for Australia, who's had a busy time of it in the last 24 hours or so. He's in Istanbul. From there he's spoken to NewsRadio's Marius Benson.

REPORTER: Let me begin, Kevin Rudd, by asking you about the Australians trapped in Egypt. What's the latest on getting those people out?

KEVIN RUDD: Having spoken again to the Australian Ambassador in Cairo, we've confirmed that we now have a team of embassy and consular officials at Cairo Airport. So far we have some 240 Australians who've registered for the upcoming charter flight and we're working through each of those people as they present themselves.

Furthermore we are also, through our embassy staff at Cairo Airport, providing food, water, and advice and assistance to Australians trying to depart on regular flights as well.

REPORTER: So do you think you've been able to contact all the Australians at the airport who are trying to get out?

KEVIN RUDD: Our consular staff are seeking to do that. At present you'll understand some of the logistical problems. Within the airport itself we are reasonably confident we can make contact with Australians there. It's those beyond the airport, with whom we have no means of direct telephone communication, where we have a problem, but we are slowly working our way through all of this. All other embassies in a similar position in Cairo are facing similar challenges.

REPORTER: And how soon do you think that charter flight might be available?

KEVIN RUDD: We are anticipating to have the flight on Wednesday, 2 February, and we are working towards that as our initial deadline. Some Australians are, have been, able to leave by regular flights. As I said, in the space of 12 to 18 hours we've been in the process of registering already 240 Australians for that flight.

REPORTER: Okay. Can I leave the issue of the Australians trapped in Egypt there for the moment and ask you about the wider political situation? President Mubarak has sworn in a new cabinet. Do you see that as a means of resolving this situation?

KEVIN RUDD: Well, the fundamental requirement that we have in Egypt now is for the Egyptian people to see a real reform program being implemented. We are studying right now the detail of that cabinet. However, we are advised that protesters, numbers around the country have started to swell again so we can simply observe the nature of the popular revolution. Furthermore the youth opposition movement entitled April 6, one of the organising forces behind protests have called for demonstrations of one million people on 1 February. Therefore the political situation is highly vulnerable.

REPORTER: Can that political situation be resolved with President Mubarak remaining in power?

KEVIN RUDD: The future of Mr Mubarak's government lies very much in the hands of the Egyptian people to resolve. That is a matter for them. We simply repeat our consistent position: one, real political reform is necessary in Egypt to meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people and, two, in terms of continued protest activity, we call upon the Egyptian government to respond peacefully to protest activity, not to deploy violence, because we are fearful of further loss of life.

REPORTER: How do you see this playing across the region, across the Arab world? Is it Egypt now, previously Tunisia, next Algeria, Jordan, Yemen? Do you share that analysis?

KEVIN RUDD: What I have said for a considerable period of time is one of the great challenges of the decade ahead, what I've described as a democracy deficit, not just globally but in particular in the Middle East. Therefore when you have a combination of educated, university educated young people graduating but without immediate prospects of employment and, in fact, encountering long term unemployment, this is a major dynamic in what we're seeing unfold not just in Egypt but elsewhere as well. We are watching closely developments in Jordan, we're watching closely developments elsewhere in the Arab world. That is only the prudent course of action, given the highly fluid state of events which have unfolded since the change of government in Tunisia.

REPORTER: Kevin Rudd, thank you very much.

KEVIN RUDD: Thanks very much.

HOST: The Australian Foreign Minister, speaking from Istanbul to Marius Benson.

END

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