Brussels, 20/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said in response to an Egyptian decision for a two-year extension to the state of siege that has been applied for the past 29 years: “I note Egypt's decision to limit the new state of emergency to fighting terrorism and its financing and drug-related crimes. However, I strongly encourage the government to speed up the steps needed for the adoption of an anti-terrorism law compliant with the international human rights standards as soon as possible, noting the government's commitment to this goal in the EU/Egypt action plan and in other forums”. The EU has regularly expressed the wish for this state of siege to be lifted and, during the recent session of the Association Council, said “the persisting state of emergency remains an issue of particular concern to the EU”, in addition to other issues targeted by the formal political dialogue opened under the agreement binding them.
The EU thus maintains quite a cautious tone in order not to upset a country that has become a necessary interlocutor in the process for restoring normal Arab relations with Israel, and which continues to play an important role in the establishment of the Union for the Mediterranean (an EU/Egypt summit meeting is to be held in Barcelona on 5 June, just before that with all UfM heads of state on 6 and 7 June). It is said that Egypt, which holds joint UfM presidency since July 2008, will on this occasion have its mandate extended for a further two-year tenure. To date, no other country has expressed the wish to take its place. The lack of Arab interest even applies to Morocco that was considered a potential successor. Rabat would apparently rather hold the joint presidency of ARLEM (Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly), which is more useful for its strategy for addressing the Sahrawi crisis.
The EU also takes a cautious line in order not to interfere with Egypt's highly tricky domestic situation relating to the succession (now open) of Hosni Moubarak, who is 82 and whose state of health does not augur well for a further term of presidency. Upon his return to Cairo more than a week ago after a period of convalescence following surgery in Germany, the president had cautioned the opposition, which was boosted by the prospect of a candidature not officially approved - that in particular of the former IAEA director general against Gamal Moubarak (junior), assumed to be the “natural” candidate. “Mohamed El Baradei's entry onto the political scene brings a breath of fresh air”, writes an Egyptian editorialist close to the opposition. However, for President Moubarak, who was speaking on the occasion of Labour Day, “in this delicate period, there can be no place for those who mix change and chaos”. He had said he was apprehensive about those who slide towards agitation, thus exposing Egypt and its sons to the dangers of repression. Hardly convinced, the opposition is now rallying with a view to a presidential election in 2011 and, according to media reports, El Baradei has said he is ready to stand for presidency on condition that elections are free and fair and exempt from fraud and that the Constitution be revised to lift any restrictions on independent candidates.
For the time being, the EU simply hopes that the Egyptian authorities will seize this “opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the holding of free and fair elections in accordance with international standards”. The EU “reiterates its offer of assistance to Egypt to improve the electoral framework including voter registration and capacity building, as provided for in the action plan, and expresses its readiness to consider making observers available”, if Cairo so wishes. (F.B./transl.jl)