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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.

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Among the Arab countries Egypt occupies a special place. Being at the crossroad between two continents, with most numerous Arab population and strongest Arab and African arm forces, and being the first Arab country to have recognized the State of Israel, Cairo plays an extraordinary role in the Middle East peace process. No lasting peace in the region can be achieved without Egypt's active and benevolent participation. Any major political move by any major power either in the Eastern Mediterranean or in Persian Gulf has to be coordinated with its leadership. Any such service has its price so it isn't surprising that Cairo benefits from generous western, especially American, economic and military aid.

Having Egypt under control has been a dream from many multinational empires and world powers in the past millennia. In the recent decades the geographic proximity to the big oil and the border with Israel have again emphasized the special role this country plays in the world politics. Gradually changing its status from revisionist to status quo country during the 1970's has made a big difference in the regional political agenda. If before this change the main question was when the next Arab war against Israel will take place, after it the chief problem was what price every side (Israel and its neighbors) should pay for reaching a lasting peace in the region. Therefore keeping Egypt as close as possible to the West has become a major concern for any U.S. administration since Jimmy Carter and the Camp David peace accord.

Modern Egypt has never been even near to the Western democratic ideals but it seems that this doesn't represent a major concern for any big power, because at stake are matters by far exceeding the importance of the human rights in one particular country. We don't want to say that in Brussels or Washington won't be delighted to see a democratic and responsible government taking in charge in Cairo. Our point is that when the two issues are compared: the democracy in Egypt and its western leaning, the bets aren't in favor of the popular rule. The main dangers to this political choice come from the officially banned organization Muslim Brotherhood, believed to enjoy a strong support among parts of the population. What it offers is completely different political and social model, something between the Iranian and the Taliban versions of Islamic state. Exactly 50 years ago in 1954 this organization was banned and shortly afterward it was accused of trying to assassinate the president Nasser, a champion of alternative secular social and political model.

Today's ruler Hosni Mubarak, who presides over the country since 1981, is aging and will have to find quickly a successor, ready to continue the previous political directions without major shifts. There are strong rumors, which can't be expressed freely in the state controlled press, that the president apparently has chosen his son Jamal to lead the country after his political retirement. It seems that the West will receive such change more than warmly. At the end, its main concerns are to preserve the status quo, not to shake the boat.

Egypt Profile:

• Area: 1,001,450 sq km
• Arable land: 2.85%
• Irrigated land: 33,000 sq km (1998 est.)
• Population: 75 million
• Population growth rate: 1.88% (2003 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 70.41 years
• Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
• GDP per capita: purchasing power parity $4,000 (2002 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 22.9%
• Natural gas reserves: 1.264 trillion cu m
• Main trading partners: US, EU, China.
• Economic aid (recipient): $2.25 billion (1999)
• Internet users: 600,000 (2002)

(Source: CIA - The World Factbook 2003)

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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Egypt.