Brussels, 23/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 22 July, European foreign affairs ministers said that the Egyptian armed forces “should not play a political role in a democracy” and “must accept and respect the constitutional authority of civilian power as a basic principle of democratic governance”.
“It is now of the utmost importance that Egypt embarks on a transition, allowing a transfer of power to a civilian-led and democratically elected government”, added the Foreign Affairs Council in the conclusions that it adopted. One of the main priorities, they say, is to ensure that the process of drafting the new constitution is “inclusive and democratic”. To be totally inclusive, the transition process must include the Freedom and Justice Party of the Muslim Brotherhood, which “must be allowed to work freely and enjoy full freedom of expression”.
The Council reiterated its call to all the political forces of the country to engage “now” in a process of reconciliation and to work on the organisation of “democratic elections in the shortest possible time”. Without a “democratically elected government responding to the legitimate aspirations of all the Egyptian people”, there will be no return to economic growth, the ministers state.
The European foreign affairs ministers also called on all parties to refrain from all violence. “Security and public order should be maintained with restraint and full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms”, the Council conclusions state.
Call for Morsi's release. The ministers also called for the release of all political detainees, including the deposed president Mohamed Morsi, as well as the end to politically motivated arrests. This is a call that High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton made during her lightning visit to Cairo on 17 July (see EUROPE 10891). Furthermore, the 28 EU countries picked up on Ashton's statement of 14 July (see EUROPE 10888).
The EU will continue to offer its financial support to Egypt under the European neighbourhood policy, as expressed during the specific taskforce meeting (see EUROPE 10731). (CG/transl.fl)