CAIRO: Egypt's local papers were divided yesterday between listing President Hosni Mubarak's achievements and scolding the government for overspending to mark the president's birthday; he turned 81 on May 4. Diversity in coverage and editorials was evident especially when comparing state-run newspapers with their opposition and independent counterparts. State-run newspaper editorials focused on Mubarak's efforts in maintaining national security and towards economic and constitutional reform, while independent papers called upon the president to step down and asked government officials to refrain from the wasting public funds. According to press reports, Mubarak's festivities would be confined to celebrating with his family, receiving birthday wishes from senior officials in the state and following up on the progress of the H1N1 protection campaign in the country in addition to his daily routine. Independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm said in the bottom of its front page that Mubarak will kick off his 82nd year with intensified political activity, starting with receiving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 18 and visiting Washington by the end of the month. Mubarak is also set to participate in the G20 summit in Italy in July as an observer and then head the non-alliance countries summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh with the participation of 70 countries. Under the title "Mubarak . years of continuous giving Osama Saraya wrote in state-run Al-Ahram, "It is our right that President Mubarak would accept our felicitations on his birthday in appreciation of and gratitude to his journey of giving. "During his time, Egypt knew freedom, realism, openness and honest patriotism, Al-Ahram's chief-editor wrote. "We loved his glorious history, patience with us and our problems, toughness in facing external national security threats and how to evenly deal with problems without exaggeration or underestimation, he added. "To national security, stability and reform.happy birthday to our guarantor, state-run Al-Gomhuria titled its editorial on the occasion. "Maybe Egypt isn't the richest country in the Middle East but we hold the best investment in the region which is the Egyptian national security; our land is free and no other flag is raised on it, editor-in-chief Mohamed Ali Ibrahim wrote. "This has resulted in increased foreign investment and more job opportunities to absorb the high number of graduates introduced to the market every year, Ibrahim wrote. Ibrahim said that reducing tax categories from 27 to six, issuing the competition protection and anti-trust laws and the rise in the number of companies operating in Egypt to 4,000 were some of the fruits of this policy. "If it wasn't for Mubarak's care about these three issues, our lives would have had another taste that we don't want to try ever, he said The picture was different in independent daily Al-Dostour. "In all countries, the president's birthday is a happy and cheerful occasion but Mubarak's birthday is always accompanied by an official hypocrisy campaign in which all officials and ministries participate, read an Al-Dostour editorial. "President Mubarak has the full right to celebrate his birthday as he likes but no one has the right to turn this occasion into a national festival or a political event observed by all official media and institutions, ex-presidential candidate and political activist Ayman Nour wrote in his column in Al-Dostour. Nour said that whatever official or company executive runs a congratulatory ad in newspapers on this occasion should be accused of wasting public money and be penalized for doing so. "Those who think they are serving the president with this cheap hypocrisy are actually hurting his image, he said "During his presidency, Egypt didn't witness a single specific schedule to achieve strategic goals; not much of his electoral program back in 2005 was achieved, Anwar Esmat El-Sadat wrote in Al-Dostour. "We reiterate the advice of many faithful and honorable people to you to retire after this long history without any concerns about the destabilizing the country, he added. "Close your eyes while blowing the candles and imagine how the lives of millions will change, he added.
