22/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a statement issued on Monday 22 December, the EU deplores the decision of the Syrian Appeal Court to refuse the early release of Michel Kilo and Mahmoud Issa. Without wishing to comment of the legality of the procedure that was followed, the EU calls for the immediate release of the two men who were imprisoned for simply calling on the Syrian and Lebanese governments to normalise relations and to set their borders. The European Union says that, in the year when the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights is celebrated, it expects the Syrian authorities to abide by their international commitments, in particular with regard to the Declaration and the International Pact on civil and political rights which Syria ratified in 1969. (H.B./transl.rt)