Brussels, 04/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Speaking to the press about Egypt, French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed the summit's “unambiguous statement” and expressed his “shock at what happened to journalists”. He said that the Egyptian people's aspirations of democracy had to be satisfied. The transition had to be rapid, but he added: “I am not certain that we, non-Egyptians, should intervene to say who should lead this process and how”. When asked about the dangers of the Egyptian crisis spreading like a contagion to the rest of the Arab world, Sarkozy said that “denying a democratic process on the pretext that fundamentalism exists is not acceptable”.
To a question from a journalist who asked if the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), which was launched in 2008, was an idea worth relaunching or whether, on the contrary, it should be abandoned, the French president replied without hesitation: “I continue to be of the opinion that the UfM is not only necessary but indispensible”. He said with satisfaction that France had fought for mention to be made of the UfM in the European Council conclusions.
Were the major states tying Catherine Ashton's hands behind her back, asked a journalist, alluding to comments from Yves Leterme suggesting that the EU high representative for foreign affairs did not have enough political room. Absolutely not, retorted Sarkozy: “Ms Ashton has a mandate. I am sure she will conduct it successfully (Ed: in her forthcoming visits to Egypt and Tunisia). That 27 governments should say nothing because Ms Ashton is there, that is not how I see things. Some countries know the Arab countries better than others”. (A.N./transl.rt)