The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expresses its “deep concern” for the transitional military forces’ “violent repression” of the legitimate demonstrations of the Egyptian population that in the last week alone killed 40 people, and firmly condemned this new wave of bloodshed”. The Bureau welcomes the announcement of the establishment of a national unity government, of keeping the legislative election on 28th November, but it recalls that, in its Resolution 1831 (2011), “Cooperation between the Council of Europe and the emergent democracies of the Arab world”, adopted a few weeks ago, the Assembly urged the Egyptian authorities to “create a climate of confidence before and during the election” and to “take appropriate measures for such election to be free and fair”. They also expressed concern for and the condemnation of the “systematic use of violence by the Syrian authorities against their own people, which killed thousand of people, including children”. The Bureau urges Damascus’ authorities to implement the plan submitted by the Arab League earlier this month, under which Syria would have 15 days’ time to withdraw its troops from the cities, release the arrested people, and negotiate with the opposition. “The Bureau “fully supports” the efforts made by the Arab League and Turkey to “pave the way to a peaceful democratic transition in the country”.

© www.agensir.it - november 25th 2011