ID :
159323
Tue, 02/08/2011 - 12:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/159323
The shortlink copeid
Prime Minister David Cameron Monday called on EU to adopt a “more Hard-headed” approach to Egypt
London (IRNA) – Prime Minister David Cameron Monday called on EU to adopt a “more Hard-headed” approach to Egypt and rest of Middle East with regard to huge assistance it offers in exchange for democratic reforms.
“We have spent billions of taxpayers' money in Egypt and neighbouring countries, with carefully crafted Association Agreements and Action Plans offering funds, access to our markets, and other assistance in exchange for progress on the rule of law, democracy and human rights,” Cameron said.
“But in Egypt, there has been little or no progress on torture, the judiciary, democracy or ending a 30-year old State of Emergency,” he told MPs in a statement on last Friday’s EU summit in Brussels.
“It is time for Europe to take a more hard-headed approach where the conditions on which we give money are real and insisted upon,” the prime minister said.
He said that the summit’s declaration on Egypt had a number of very positive aspects aid, including firstly that the authorities should “meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people with political reform not repression”
“Second, it’s clear that transition is needed to broad based democratic government and the statement is emphatic that this transition should start now.”
The European Council, Cameron added, was “clear that this has to involve the building blocks of free and open societies and democratic institutions, such as freedom of assembly, the rule of law, freedom of speech and free and fair elections.”
“There’s a strong case, and the statement reflects, that the EU needs to look hard at its role in the region,” he told the British Parliament.
The prime minister later clarified that specific to the EU declaration on Egypt he made sure some of the language was “real and tangible” in relation to the condition of aid.
He also said that discussions included “concerns” about the effects of the Egyptian uprising on the Middle East peace process and that it why it was important to keep pressure on Israel and also on Palestinians to return to negotiations./end
“We have spent billions of taxpayers' money in Egypt and neighbouring countries, with carefully crafted Association Agreements and Action Plans offering funds, access to our markets, and other assistance in exchange for progress on the rule of law, democracy and human rights,” Cameron said.
“But in Egypt, there has been little or no progress on torture, the judiciary, democracy or ending a 30-year old State of Emergency,” he told MPs in a statement on last Friday’s EU summit in Brussels.
“It is time for Europe to take a more hard-headed approach where the conditions on which we give money are real and insisted upon,” the prime minister said.
He said that the summit’s declaration on Egypt had a number of very positive aspects aid, including firstly that the authorities should “meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people with political reform not repression”
“Second, it’s clear that transition is needed to broad based democratic government and the statement is emphatic that this transition should start now.”
The European Council, Cameron added, was “clear that this has to involve the building blocks of free and open societies and democratic institutions, such as freedom of assembly, the rule of law, freedom of speech and free and fair elections.”
“There’s a strong case, and the statement reflects, that the EU needs to look hard at its role in the region,” he told the British Parliament.
The prime minister later clarified that specific to the EU declaration on Egypt he made sure some of the language was “real and tangible” in relation to the condition of aid.
He also said that discussions included “concerns” about the effects of the Egyptian uprising on the Middle East peace process and that it why it was important to keep pressure on Israel and also on Palestinians to return to negotiations./end
