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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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Egypt: Uneasy status quoEgypt is make-or-break country in the Middle East. Without it there may be no lasting peace and no major war. Its policy, domestic or foreign, economic or diplomatic, depends heavily on the ruling elite attitudes. Except for the Islamic extremists and perhaps for some liberal intellectuals within and outside the country, everyone else accepts the current regime as a good solution or at least as the lesser of two evils. At the same time the regime itself works in three major directions: securing lasting peace for Israel with all its Arab neighbors; economic opening toward the EU; and political post-Hosni Mubarak transition. Although different, these three directions have something in common, to help perpetuate the regime for the next generation(s).
Comprehensive Arab-Israel peaceSince mid-1970s Egypt has opted for peace with Israel, and even since its regime has accepted as the lesser evil to be under attack from the most radical Islamic movements in the Middle East. Sudden radical change in the political leadership in Cairo may lead to new spin of tensions with Israel, and this is the main reason why the Islamic radicals are the most vociferous opposition. On the other hand, if Israel succeeds in making peace with all its Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians, then this huge pressure on the Egyptian leadership will ease. More than that, as the biggest Arab country Egypt will play more prominent role in a region not ruled by constant war preparations. This is the reason why Egypt, instead of boycotting Hamas, tries to influence this terrorist group to negotiate with Israel as the late Arafat has done in early 1990s. Not cutting the links with the Palestinians means that Egypt still keeps intact its political leverage in the occupied territories.
Economic openingIn the meantime, the demographic pressure in Egypt forces the government to look for new sources of economic development. Trade opening to the EU may be considered as a big step in right direction. In this sense the treaty establishing Free Trade Area with Turkey should be considered only as a proxy toward the EU. EU and Turkey have common custom union since 1990s so any country agreeing on FTA with Turkey is in fact gaining market access to almost half billion EU customers. After decades of economic autarchy and semi-opened doors this is indeed a step toward more prosperity, and why not in some distant future, toward creation of a larger Mediterranean community.
Heir apparentTo accomplish all these tasks the current political leadership needs lots of time, and the time of the current president Hosni Mubarak, who is a main block in the political pyramid, is apparently running out. Now he's 78 and by the end of his current mandate he should be 83. The name of his son Gamal (Jamal) Mubarak is frequently cited as a possible heir apparent. Now he's 42 and he's fast promoted up within the ruling National Democratic Party. This doesn't cause concerns among the traditional allies of Egypt. After Hamas took power in free and fair election in Palestinian autonomy, nobody in the West would like to push Egypt toward similar kind of electoral showdown.
Egypt country profile: --------------------
See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Egypt.
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