Brussels, 20/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Following a series of meetings with their European counterparts, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) and the observatory for the protection of human rights activists have expressed deep concern about the surge in physical violence against, and recent arrests of, Tunisian human rights defenders.
The Party of European Socialists (PES) writes in a press release that, since the last presidential elections on 25 October 2009, the human rights situation in Tunisia has continued to grow worse. The PES notes that Tunisia is seeking to gain EU “advanced partner status”. PES leader Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said advanced partner status for Tunisia is out of the question as things stand. (F.B./transl.jl)