Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-04-10-Speech-4-162"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20030410.8.4-162"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
". – Mr President, I thank you once more for the fact that you have given me the floor on this important subject.
There are several provisions in the Association Agreement for fundamental breaches by either side of essential elements, one of which is respect for democratic principles and human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (Article 2). More importantly, the Association Agreement provides for constructive political dialogue on human rights and related issues.
In conclusion I should like to say to Parliament that Commissioner Patten told the European Parliament at the debate on the EU-Egypt Association Agreement that the Commission shares the European Parliament’s concerns but also notes encouraging developments notably: new social legislation on the rights of women; the supervision of elections by the courts; ruling party proposals for ending the state security court system, and rulings by the courts on the constitutionality of contentious legislation.
The Commission continuously monitors Egypt’s respect for human rights. When the Association Agreement comes into force any human rights issue may be raised, and hopefully resolved, by either side at the appropriate Association Council or committee. The Agreement, ratified here first and ratified on Monday by the Egyptian People’s Assembly, will provide both sides with important safeguards and an additional forum to extend human and democratic rights.
Individual cases, such as the ‘Queen Boat’ case, are considered on a case-by-case basis and in close collaboration with Member States. The Commission does not hesitate to make its views known to the Egyptian authorities through normal channels or public statements as appropriate.
The draft resolutions to be discussed today seem largely prompted by the recent reconviction of 21 Egyptian men for ‘debauchery’. It is therefore with this issue that I shall start.
The Commission has followed the 'Queen Boat' affair since the arrest in May 2001 of 52 men under laws to control prostitution. We were concerned by the nature of the charges; the use of security courts and national security legislation; the allegations of police harassment and entrapment; and the severe sentences that were meted out. The inflammatory language at the trial and in the media undermine Egyptian claims that the men were not charged for their sexual orientation.
We were encouraged when President Mubarak subsequently ruled that the case should be retried in a misdemeanour court. But the conduct and outcome of the second trial were unexpected since the 21 men previously sentenced were re-sentenced to the maximum sentence of 3 years. The 21 men have appealed and an appeal verdict is provisionally expected on 4 June.
Homosexuality remains a sensitive issue for Egyptian society. But that does not mean that the Commission will condone the harassment and prosecution of people for their sexual orientation, or any measures that deprive them of their normal rights. The Commission will continue to monitor this and other similar prosecutions and has frequently communicated its concerns to the Egyptian authorities.
I will now pass to other issues raised. We welcome the release of democracy activist Saad Ibrahim and share the satisfaction of all true friends of Egypt that this long-running saga is over. Justice in the best Egyptian judicial traditions has now been done, and has been seen to be done.
We note allegations of excessive force used against Egyptian anti-Iraq war demonstrators, but emotions and tempers at such events run high and the Egyptian Government has a legitimate concern to preserve public order at such a sensitive time. It is a rapidly evolving situation. But public order should not be maintained at the expense of freedom of expression or of peaceful assembly.
The European Parliament has expressed concern for the Egyptian Copts on several occasions and will know that the Commission continues to monitor the judicial aftermath of the events in el Khosheh in 1998 and in 1999/2000.
Many commentators regret the recent extension of the state of emergency that has been in continuous effect since the early 1980s. The European Union is concerned at its use at times, and for cases that are difficult to justify. But we are encouraged that the ruling NDP party has recently proposed radically to limit the scope of the state of emergency and the system of state security courts associated with it."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples