Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA1482
2006-05-19 15:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIAN EU PRESIDENCY ISSUES DECLARATION
how-toVZCZCXRO1032 OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ DE RUEHVI #1482 1391513 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 191513Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3567 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0181
UNCLAS VIENNA 001482
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL SY AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN EU PRESIDENCY ISSUES DECLARATION
REGARDING RECENT ARRESTS IN SYRIA
REF: STATE 77093
This message is Sensitive but Unclassified.
UNCLAS VIENNA 001482
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL SY AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN EU PRESIDENCY ISSUES DECLARATION
REGARDING RECENT ARRESTS IN SYRIA
REF: STATE 77093
This message is Sensitive but Unclassified.
1. (SBU) Embassy Vienna delivered ref demarche to Austrian
Foreign Ministry May 18.
2. (U) On May 19, the Austrian EU Presidency issued a
declaration urging the Syrian authorities to reconsider all
cases of political prisoners and immediately release all
prisoners of conscience. The text of the declaration follows.
BEGIN TEXT
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union
regarding the recent arrests in Syria
Recalling the Presidency's statement of 19th January, the
European Union expresses regret that the positive steps taken
in January 2006 regarding the human rights situation in Syria
have not been continued. On the contrary, the situation has
substantially deteriorated. The EU expresses its deep
concern about the recent widespread harassment of human
rights defenders, their families and peaceful political
activists, in particular arbitrary arrests and repeated
incommunicado detention. The European Union calls on the
Syrian government to fully respect freedom of expression and
assembly as laid down in the Syrian Constitution and in the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified
by Syria in 1969, which should be fully in force in light of
the recent limitation of the emergency law to matters
strictly concerning state security.
The European Union urges the Syrian authorities to reconsider
all cases of political prisoners and immediately release all
prisoners of conscience.
Phillips
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL SY AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN EU PRESIDENCY ISSUES DECLARATION
REGARDING RECENT ARRESTS IN SYRIA
REF: STATE 77093
This message is Sensitive but Unclassified.
1. (SBU) Embassy Vienna delivered ref demarche to Austrian
Foreign Ministry May 18.
2. (U) On May 19, the Austrian EU Presidency issued a
declaration urging the Syrian authorities to reconsider all
cases of political prisoners and immediately release all
prisoners of conscience. The text of the declaration follows.
BEGIN TEXT
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union
regarding the recent arrests in Syria
Recalling the Presidency's statement of 19th January, the
European Union expresses regret that the positive steps taken
in January 2006 regarding the human rights situation in Syria
have not been continued. On the contrary, the situation has
substantially deteriorated. The EU expresses its deep
concern about the recent widespread harassment of human
rights defenders, their families and peaceful political
activists, in particular arbitrary arrests and repeated
incommunicado detention. The European Union calls on the
Syrian government to fully respect freedom of expression and
assembly as laid down in the Syrian Constitution and in the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified
by Syria in 1969, which should be fully in force in light of
the recent limitation of the emergency law to matters
strictly concerning state security.
The European Union urges the Syrian authorities to reconsider
all cases of political prisoners and immediately release all
prisoners of conscience.
Phillips