14/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 11 January, MEP Rachida Dati (EPP/France) welcomed the admission of 30 women that day to the Saudi Arabian Consultative Assembly. Dati stated that this was “an important step forward for the rights of Saudi Arabian women”. “Involvement of women in public life is a major achievement that should not be ignored. It should now provide a starting point towards further progress for Saudi Arabian women”. She said, too, that “there is still a lot of progress to be made but the change begun by his Majesty King Abdullah should be highlighted” (our translation throughout). Dati added that change in countries such as Saudi Arabia had to be encouraged. (CG/transl.fl)