Former President Jimmy Carter congratulated the people of Egypt on taking the first steps toward a new era of democratic legitimacy.

The Georgia Democrat said in a statement “we want Egyptians to know that they have the support of the international community as they embark on the difficult path of building a truly democratic nation” after the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.

The Atlanta-based Carter Center said it stood ready to assist Egyptians in the transition, but warned the president’s resignation is only a step toward self-governance. It called for an inclusive transitional government that can lead Egypt through elections.

Mubarak was vice president when Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin together for the peace accord signed in Washington, D.C.