,,iii #aae? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #dej ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,m>* #bb1 #bjah ,mr4 ,rubio 7= himself & ,mr4 ,m55dez7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations ,,resolution ,reaffirm+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates-,egypt p>tn]%ip & ! ,egyptian p's "r to free1 fair1 cr$ible1 & peaceful elections on ,m>* #bf1 #bjah4 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,egypt h long-%>$ a /rong bilat]al work+ relation%ip2 ,:]eas respect = democracy1 human rights1 & civil lib]ties are fundam5tal pr9ciples ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & critical to our national security objectives2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5t & p ( ,egypt h play$ a critical role 9 global & regional politics2 ,:]eas a /rong ,unit$ ,/ates-,egypt p>tn]%ip is important = ! peace1 /ability1 & prosp]ity ( ! ,middle ,ea/2 ,:]eas ! p & ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates h a deep & abid+ int]e/ 9 ,egypt's prosp]ity1 political progress1 & long-t]m /ability2 ,:]eas an inclusive gov]nm5t responsive to ! ne$s ( all ( its citiz5s1 includ+ religi\s m9orities1 is vital = su* /ability & prosp]ity2 ,:]eas int]national & public confid5ce 9 any electoral process is an ess5tial elem5t = advanc+ inclusive1 repres5tative =ms ( gov]nm5t2 ,:]eas ,egypt w hold a presid5tial election on ,m>* #bf1 #bjah2 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's #bjaf ,human ,rights ,report not$ t ! #bjae p>liam5t>y election rais$ conc]ns ab\t re/rictions on fre$oms ( peaceful assembly1 association1 & expression & _! negative effect on ! political climate surr\nd+ elections2 ,:]eas ! same report notes t ! #bjad presid5tial election rais$ s]i\s conc]ns reg>d+ con/ra9ts on ! fre$oms ( expression & association & limits on fre$om ( ! press lead+ up to ! election :i* prev5t$ free political p>ticipation & sev]ely compromis$ ! broad] electoral environm5t2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,egypt1 ?r\gh legal action & a highly re/rictive new law1 has creat$ a ho/ile environm5t = nongov]nm5tal organizations 7,n,g,os71 :i* provide ess5tial s]vices to ! p ( ,egypt & = :om peaceful association = civic activities is a fundam5tal "r2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t reprogramm$ & )held "s assi/ance to ,egypt 9 ,augu/ #bjag due 9 "p to ! inability to c]tify1 z requir$ by ,congress1 t ,egypt is advanc+ democracy & human rights2 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate1 9 an ,augu/ #bc1 #bjag1 press brief+1 report$ t x 0 unable to c]tify t ,egypt is advanc+ democracy & human rights2 ,:]eas1 9 ,janu>y #bjah1 ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate ,spokesp]son ,hea!r ,nau]t affirm$ t ! ,unit$ ,/ates supports free & fair elections 9 ,egypt & said1 ,we support a timely & cr$ible electoral process & believe x ne$s to include ! opportunity = citiz5s to p>ticipate freely 9 ,egyptian elections4 ,we believe t t %\ld include address+ re/rictions on fre$om ( association1 peaceful assembly1 & also expression42 ,:]eas ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,rex ,till]son visit$ ,egypt on ,febru>y #ab1 #bjah1 & /at$ dur+ a jo9t press availability ) ,egyptian ,=eign ,m9i/] ,sameh ,%\kry1 ,) ! presid5tial elections plann$ = ! end ( ,m>*1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 z x does 9 all c\ntries1 supports a transp>5t & cr$ible electoral process1 & all citiz5s be+ giv5 ! "r & ! opportunity to p>ticipate freely & fairly42 ,:]eas ,presid5t ( ,egypt ,abdel ,fattah el-,sisi1 9 a televis$ int]view on ,septemb] #af1 #bjaf1 ) ,,cbs ,ev5+ ,news1 said1 ,we uphold ! pr9ciples ( respect+ p1 ( honor+ _! rights42 ,:]eas ,presid5t el-,sisi has ass]t$ 8 commitm5t to t]m limits & free & fair elections ov] ! ye>s1 /at+ 9 a ,,cnbc int]view on ,novemb] #f1 #bjag1 ,!re is no presid5t :o w sit 9 ! *air )\t ! w ( ! ,egyptian p ''' ! "o t is 9 ! presid5t's seat w n be able to /ay aft] ! t]m all[$ by ! law & ! con/itution4 ,& :at det]m9es ?is w be ! vote ( ! ,egyptian p42 ,:]eas all cr$ible opposition c&idates 9 ,egypt's #bjah presid5tial election fac$ pressure1 h>assm5t1 or arre/ & subsequ5tly )drew _! c&idacies2 ,:]eas sev]al prom95t ,egyptian opposition politicians releas$ a /atem5t on ,janu>y #bh1 #bjah1 call+ = ,egyptians to boycott ^! elections ''' n only = ! abs5ce ( ! idea ( electoral competition1 b also because x is an obvi\s fir/ /ep t[>d *ang+ ! ,con/itution1 remov+ ! limit on presid5tial t]ms & elim9at+ all *ances ( a peaceful transf] ( p[]2 ,:]eas1 9 ! same /atem5t1 ^! political figures w5t on to note t ! security & adm9i/rative practices tak5 by ! curr5t sy/em are int5d$ to prev5t any fair competition 9 ! upcom+ elections ''' spread+ a climate ( security fe>1 m$ia bias ''' & !n ) a tight s*$ule t does n provide a real opportunity = competitors to put !mselves & _! programs =w>d2 & ,:]eas ! only curr5t opposition c&idate1 ,mr4 ,m\ssa ,mo/afa ,m\ssa1 is f ! ,al-,ghad p>ty1 :i* has no seats 9 p>liam5t1 & only a few days be=e decl>+ 8 c&idacy l$ a campaign call$ ,we ,support call+ = el-,sisi's reelection3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 reass]ts its commitm5t to ! ,unit$ ,/ates-,egypt p>tn]%ip & to advanc+ ! common int]e/s ( bo? c\ntries2 7#b7 recognizes t ,egypt faces legitimate security ?reats & expresses condol5ces = ! loss ( life suff]$ by ! ,egyptian p 9 attacks by viol5t extremi/ organizations2 7#c7 reaffirms ! commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to democracy1 human rights1 civil lib]ties1 & ! rule ( law1 includ+ ! univ]sal rights ( fre$om ( assembly1 fre$om ( spee*1 fre$om ( ! press1 & fre$om ( association2 7#d7 expresses support = human rights1 civil lib]ties1 & rule ( law 9 ,egypt1 & = elections t are free1 fair1 & cr$ible2 7#e7 notes t a lack ( progress 9 ^! areas w und]m9e ,egypt's security & economic /abilization2 7#f7 supports ! p ( ,egypt1 :o are entitl$ to det]m9e _! own de/9y1 includ+ select+ _! political lead]%ip ?r\gh a fair & cr$ible electoral process )\t fe> ( or intimidation by _! gov]nm5t2 7#g7 urges ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,egypt to take mean+ful /eps to enable free1 fair1 cr$ible1 & peaceful elections 9 ,m>* #bjah & 9 ! future2 7#h7 expresses conc]n reg>d+ ! intimidation & det5tion ( cr$ible opposition c&idates1 z well z ! re/rictive environm5t = nongov]nm5tal organizations & m$ia2 7#i7 calls on ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t1 =eign gov]nm5ts1 & p>liam5ts to speak out 9 support ( ! "r ( ! ,egyptian p to free1 fair1 & cr$ible elections2 & 7#aj7 enc\rages ! ,presid5t to appo9t an ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,/ate = ,ne> ,ea/]n ,affairs & a ,unit$ ,/ates ,ambassador to ,egypt to bol/] diplomatic engagem5t ) ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,egypt1 electoral /akehold]s1 & civil society z well z consi/5tly raise issues ( human rights1 rule ( law1 & gov]nance4