23/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a statement issued on 20 January, the Austrian Presidency welcomed 'the release of the political prisoners Ryad Seif, Mamoun al-Homsi, Habib Aisa, Fawaz Tello and Waleed al-Bouny in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Presidency considers this as a positive gesture. The Presidency expresses its hope that this development will be followed by the immediate release of all remaining political prisoners and will be confirmed as a first step towards greater political freedom and the full implementation of international human rights standards in the Syrian Arab Republic.'