Strasbourg, 27/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a joint resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR groups adopted in plenary on Thursday 26 November, the European Parliament welcomes the Laos' ratification of the international pact on civil and political rights and urges the country to fully respect the terms of the pact, immediately bringing its legislation into line with the pact, adapting it where necessary to comply with the international standards it has signed up to in terms of freedom of speech, congregation and religion. The EP again calls for the release of student leaders arrested on 26 October 1999, along with human rights activists and all other political prisoners in Laos. The MEPs want the government to prepare and immediately implement all the adjustments needed to introduce democracy, guarantee the right to peaceful freedom of speech for the political opposition and ensure that the organisation of pluralist elections takes place in the near future under international surveillance. (E.H./transl.fl)