Police officers standing guard outside the Shoura Council, or the upper house of parliament, watch as a protester chants slogans against Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who gives a speech at the Council in Cairo, Saturday. — Reuters CAIRO – Egypt's president has warned against any unrest that could harm the drive to repair the country's economy in a sharply worded speech pushing the opposition to work with his government. Mohamed Morsi has made the comments in his first speech to the newly convened upper house of parliament, saying it was time for the nation to turn to “production, work, seriousness” after two years of turmoil. The past month saw a surge in unrest when the opposition launched a wave of protests against a new constitution, and Islamist supporters of the president held counter-rallies. He said all sides must “realize the needs of the moment” and work only through “mature democracy while avoiding violence.” He said violence from any faction was “totally rejected.” Morsi downplayed the country's teetering economy, and insisted that a new constitution that fuelled protests guaranteed equality. “General indicators for the social and economic situation have shown some noticeable progress,” Morsi said, blaming the weeks-long protests in November and December for damaging tourism. “I say to all, both at home and abroad, the state of financial institutions is not what some are trying to picture,” he said, adding that foreign reserves increased by $1.1 billion from July to $15.5 billion in November. “We cannot even consider this satisfactory. In June 2010 it was $35 billion. But in July 2012 it was $14.4 billion,” he said. “But with Egypt now approaching stability, and with a sense of responsibility, we will do our utmost to double it (reserves) in future,” he said. Morsi added that the number of tourists over the past four months had doubled compared with a six-month period last year. He also said the Suez Canal recorded two billion dollars in revenue between July and October 2012 -- “the largest percentage in a long time.” “Unfortunately, if it were not for events in which some people violated the peacefulness of politics, this noticeable rise (in tourism) would have continued,” he said of protests such as the one that killed at least eight people in clashes outside the presidential palace on December 5. The mass rallies that broke out in November after Morsi adopted extensive powers — later repealed — have now subsided, but the opposition this week called for further protests against the new constitution. The opposition, led by the National Salvation Front coalition, sees the charter as a possible tool to introduce strict Islamic Shariah law by weakening human rights generally, women's rights and the independence of the judiciary. It also stressed the low voter turnout of 33 percent in the referendum on December 15 and 22. But in Saturday's speech, Morsi insisted the charter granted equality. “All are equal before the law, and in this constitution,” he said, adding that there would be “freedom for all people, with no exceptions.” He also broached on foreign relations in his speech, reaffirming support for Syrian rebels. “The Syrians' revolution, and we support it, will achieve its goals of freedom and dignity,” he said. Morsi said Egypt's priority was to halt the bloodshed and to work, with “Arab, regional and international support and consensus”, for a political solution that would allow “the Syrian people to replace the current regime” with elected leaders. “All of that while preserving the unity of Syria,” he said. “There is no place for the current regime in the future of Syria.” – Agencies
