Morsi Vows to Honor Int'l Treaties, Says 'Revolution Continues'
Egypt's president-elect Mohammed Morsi on Sunday insisted that the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak would continue until its goals were met and vowed to honor Egypt’s international treaties, in his first address after being declared the country's next leader.
"The revolution continues, until all its demands are met," he said in a speech broadcast live on state television, hours after the election commission declared him the winner of this month's run-off vote.
"We will preserve all international treaties and charters ... we come in peace," Morsi said, in a veiled reference to Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign such a treaty with the Jewish state.
Morsi also vowed he will be a leader "for all Egyptians" and called for national unity after a polarizing race.
"I will be a president for all Egyptians," Morsi said just hours after he was declared president following a deeply divisive race against Ahmed Shafiq, the last premier to serve under ousted president Mubarak.
"I call on you, great people of Egypt ... to strengthen our national unity," he said, adding that national unity "is the only way out of these difficult times."
Morsi won 51.73 percent of the vote, with 13,230,131 ballots.
The election has polarized the nation, dividing those who feared a return to the old regime under Shafiq from others who wanted to keep religion out of politics and who fear the Brotherhood would stifle personal freedoms.
Morsi, who resigned from the Muslim Brotherhood to take the top job, thanked the "martyrs" of the uprising for the victory.
“Today, the people have become the source of authority,” added the president-elect.
“We will not allow ourselves to interfere in the domestic affairs of any nation and we will not allow anyone to interfere in our affairs and let everyone know that Egypt makes its own decisions although it calls for peace with the entire world,” Morsi went on to say.
Earlier on Sunday, Morsi saluted the judiciary and the army for overseeing the democratic process.
"Respectful salutation to Egypt's honorable and just judiciary and to the brave men of the army and police who protected the democratic process with all honor. Congratulations to Egypt," Morsi said on his website.
Source: Agence France Presse
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