Egyptian President-elect Mohamed Morsi on Saturday took his oath before the General Assembly of the Supreme Constitutional Court as the new president after the toppling of former President Hosni Mubarak.
“I swear by almighty God that I will sincerely protect the republican order and that I fully respect the constitution and the rule of the law and completely take care of people’s interests, preserve the nation independency and safety of its lands,” Morsi said at the ceremony.
He promised to lead “a modern, constitutional, national and civil country.”
“Egyptians today have established their new life with freedom,” he said, adding that “Egypt has institutions with loyal people who know the meaning of respecting the constitution and the laws.”
The president then delivered a speech at Cairo University. In a three-floor auditorium, head of the military council Hussein Tantawi, caretaker Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa were seated in the front row.
Morsi said the constitution will express the national reconciliation, based on right, justice and law. He stressed “I’ll govern out of being a servant for the nation hired by the people.”
He promised to support the common Arab work. “Egypt respects all the conventions and agreements,” said Morsi stressing his support to the Palestinian cause.
Morsi praised the role of the armed forces who fulfilled their promise not to be a substitute for the people’s legitimacy. He extended thanks to the military institution for implementing their role.
“Now the great Egyptian army will go back to his mission which is protecting the nation’s borders and preserving the armed forces strong in light of law and constitution,” he added.
He noted that maintaining safety and national security of the country is related to the ability to preserve the armed forces. ” The armed forces is the armor and sword of our nation.”
“We are in bad need of eliminating all the chaos in all fields, economic in particular to make comprehensive social justice for all.”
He asked all to cooperate to encourage investments in all sectors and especially regain the role of tourism.
Morsi defeated his rival, former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq in the presidential run-off held on June 16 and 17.