Bulgaria Urges Coordinated EU 27 Actions on Egypt

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | January 31, 2011, Monday // 20:49
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Urges Coordinated EU 27 Actions on Egypt Demonstrators arrive at Al Tahrir Square as thousands continue their protests in central Cairo, Egypt, 31 January 2011. EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov has urged the EU member states to come up with coordinated actions with respect to the intensive civil unrest protests against the Mubarak regime in Egypt.

Mladenov took part Monday in the sitting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. He recommended the quick drafting of clear rules for everybody in the EU with respect to situations such as the current crisis in Egypt.

"The EU backs the democratic demands of the young Egyptians who came out to protest on the streets and is calling upon the authorities to provide for a gradual transition towards change," Mladenov declared as cited by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry press office.

He further argued that no compromises should be made with the security in Egypt's region.

During their Monday meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states declared themselves in favor of an uncompromised access to Internet – as the Mubarak regime turned off the Internet connection of the country on Friday to prevent the protesters from using it.

"We are witnessing the largest transformation in a region close to Europe," Bulgaria's Foreign Minister believes referring to the recent overthrow of the regime in Tunisia, the events in Egypt, and protests elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East – Jordan, Sudan, and Yemen.

A day earlier, on Sunday, Mladenov issued a special statement declaring that the civil unrest in Egypt from the past week demonstrates the country needs change towards greater democracy and human rights.

Mladenov's statement on Egypt appeared to be very similar to the policy declarations of the USA with respect to the ongoing crisis in the largest Arab country. The Obama Administration continues to say that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak must allow free and fair elections and put his nation on a path to "real democracy," but has stopped short of endorsing the calls of Egyptian protesters for him to step down.

In his Sunday's statement the Bulgarian Foreign Minister argued in favor of prudent dialogue and reforms in Egypt, and welcomed the appointment of a new government by Mubarak.

"The will of the Egyptians for reforms is clear. It must be met with prudence, dialogue, and change but without making any compromise with the safety of the people of Egypt," Mladenov declared in his special statement.

"I am encouraged by the appointment of Vice President Omar Suleiman and Prime Minister Ahmad Shafik who must now – together with the whole government – should demonstrate decisiveness and meet the expectations for change, democracy and greater representation [of the people in government]," says the Bulgarian top diplomat.

Suleiman is Egypt's longtime intelligence chief, while Shafik is a former commander of the country's air force; they were appointed on Saturday, after 82-year-old Mubarak made a scapegoat of the previous government in an attempt to keep his post and satisfy the demands of the street protesters.

Mladenov stressed that the Bulgarian government condemns unconditionally the use of violence against the protesters and expresses condolences for those who became victims to the civil unrest in Egypt. Bulgaria further declares totally unacceptable the cutting off of Internet and mobile phones connection to which the Egyptian authorities resorted on Friday as a measure against the intensification of the protests.

"At the same time, we are encouraged by the numerous examples in which the Egyptian army and people stood together in these hard moments. Now Europe must support Egypt on the way of reforms and change in the name of greater participation of the people in the government by avoiding destabilization, violence and chaos. Egypt's stability and the prosperity of the Egyptian people are key goals for the entire region and EU's southern neighbors," Mladenov concluded.

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Tags: Foreign Minister, Egypt, Nikolay Mladenov, EU Foreign Affairs Council, civil unrest, EU, EU 27

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