Brussels, 04/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - During the night of 3-4 July, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and many European foreign affairs ministers reacted to the Egyptian army's deposition of Egypt's President Morsi, to the suspension of the constitution and to the nomination as interim president of the head of the constitutional court, Adly Mansour. Following developments closely and “fully aware of the deep divisions in society, popular demands for political change and efforts at brokering a compromise”, Ashton urged “all sides to rapidly return to the democratic process, including the holding of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections and the approval of a constitution, to be done in a fully inclusive manner, so as to permit the country to resume and complete its democratic transition.”
Calling on all parties to show restraint and firmly condemning all acts of violence, Ashton also urged the security forces to do everything possible to protect the lives and well-being of the citizens. She hoped that “the new administration will be fully inclusive”, and reiterated the importance of ensuring full respect for fundamental rights and freedoms and the rule of law.
Asked about why Ashton's press release does not mention a “coup d'état”, her spokesperson, Michael Mann, simply said that “we do not support military intervention in political life”. He also said that Ashton had spoken to Mohamed El Baradei from the opposition during the night of 3-4 July.
On 4 July, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz called on all parties to “show the highest sense of responsibility, restraint and a genuine willingness to reach national reconciliation and political compromise”. “Confrontation must be replaced by dialogue, in deeds and not just in words”, he said. Schulz reiterated that “democracy, civilian rule and civil rights must return as soon as possible to the country, and this must be achieved through a clear electoral calendar and a process which is peaceful, inclusive and transparent”. “A strong parliament, and expression of all the civic forces and views which make up the Egyptian society, is the best safeguard against any authoritarian drift, and a means to ensure the stability, democracy and pluralism of the future Egypt”, he stated.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that “Egypt urgently needs to return to the democratic process”. He also said he wanted the political leaders of Egypt to find the means to work together to accept a constitution, and he wanted economic measures to be taken urgently. He stated that the UK does not accept military intervention to settle differences in democratic systems, but that it is now necessary to look ahead. His French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, took note of the situation and the announcement of new elections. He said that France “wants the deadlines to be prepared in respect of civil peace, pluralism, civil liberties and the gains from democratic transition, so that the Egyptian people might freely choose their leaders and future”. Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders repeated his call for dialogue and stressed the importance of refraining from all acts of violence and repression against the population and its political actors. He hoped that “the new government will know how to lead the country in respect for the rule of law and by ensuring the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Egyptians, and will focus on the country's economic recovery”.
In the view of Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Morsi's overthrow is “a major failure for democracy in Egypt”. “It is urgent for Egypt to return to constitutional order as quickly as possible (…). There is a real danger that the democratic transition process might be seriously altered”, he said. “Political arrests and a wave of repression must be avoided at all costs. Everything must be set in place for a return to the path of democratic order”, he said, calling on all the parties to renounce violence. His Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, reiterated that “everyone must respect democratic principles and constitutional order. The solution must be found in this framework.” Bildt added that violence must be avoided, consensus sought and human rights respected. In the view of Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, “the democratic transition must be continued”. “Egypt urgently needs to return to a democratic process - free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections, and the rule of law”, he said (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)