Washington, DC –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD),a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following comments in response to the resignation of Egyptian President Mubarak.

 

“President Hosni Mubarak’s decision to step down immediately is a positive step towards a meaningful transition that meets the expectations of those who have sought to express their freedoms in Cairo and across Egypt during the past few weeks.  I urge Egypt’s new leadership to continue to move towards an orderly, meaningful, and peaceful resolution that addresses the needs of the Egyptian people and respects their rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, and truly free and fair elections.

 

“I also call on the current Egyptian government and any future government to continue to respect international treaties and security commitments made with the United States and other countries.  Despite our historical differences in respecting human rights and the rule of law, Egypt has long been a partner in working to ensure stability and combat terrorism in the Middle East. It is

my hope that the new Egyptian government will continue to play an active role in these critical areas while continuing to uphold its country’s international obligations.”

 

 

###