The June 30 Revolution turned the Egyptian political scene upside down abroad and at home. At the level of international relations, Egypt has become more open to the world, while some of its relations with other countries have deteriorated. At home, Egypt has placed further emphasis on freedoms, applying the protest law so as to control security and order and to circumvent any attempt on the part of the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters to cause chaos and confusion.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former secretary-general of the United Nations and the honorary president of the National Council for Human Rights, gave an exclusive phone interview to Al-Monitor on Feb. 8, a week before his death at the age of 93. He said that the current climate does not allow the full application of human rights, given that Egypt has gone through two consecutive revolutions, followed by protests and demonstrations on the part of the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters who are difficult to contain.

In regard to the Renaissance Dam, which the Ethiopian government is determined to complete, Boutros-Ghali said that the Egyptian government has neglected this issue for many years under former President Hosni Mubarak, stressing that any demands for military intervention in Ethiopia reflect “ignorance.”

Concerning the consolidation of relations between Egypt and Moscow after the June 30 Revolution, which experts say would negatively affect Egypt’s relations with the United States, Boutros-Ghali said that these statements reflect ignorance as well. He stressed that it is very important and necessary for Egypt to be open to the whole world to achieve its goals and interests.