The Council of 27 to Mubarak: "We must listen to democratic aspirations"

« The legitimate democratic aspirations and grievances of the Egyptian people must be listened to carefully and resolved through decisive, concrete and urgent measures. is the main message that the 27 Foreign Ministers adopted today, according to the latest draft conclusions that I was able to read. A paragraph which, moreover, appeared in one of the drafts right in the middle of the text and which has been moved up to the top to show how much the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people have been heard on the European continent. The 27, on the other hand, did not mention a word about the possible departure of President Mubarak.

Democratic transition and free and fair elections.

The Europeans ask the Egyptian authorities to " engage in an orderly transition through broad-based government towards a genuine process of substantial democratic reform with full respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, opening up the path to fair and free elections ". They urge the Egyptian authorities to commit “in a peaceful and constructive process, based on a serious and open dialogue with all the political forces ready to respect democratic standards and with civil society ».

End of violence and restoration of media and internet freedom

The 27 also call " all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further violence ", to release the peaceful demonstrators still detained, to " restore all means of communication without delay and guarantee unimpeded access to all media, including the internet ».