UPROAR OVER EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 CAIRO 000107 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM EU EUN EG SUBJECT: UPROAR OVER EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION CRITICAL OF EGYPT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs William R. Stewart, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Senior GOE officials have loudly protested the European Parliament's (EP) January 17 passage of a resolution sharply critical of Egypt's human rights record. Among other things, the resolution calls for the immediate release of imprisoned former Al Ghad party leader and presidential candidate Ayman Nour, an end to the government's harassment of journalists and human rights activists, lifting the state of emergency, amending the law which governs military tribunals, investigating suspected cases of torture, enhancing the independence of the judiciary, and encouraging a more vigorous anti-smuggling effort on the Gaza border (full text of resolution at para 6). Several Egyptian ministers have denounced the resolution, and Egypt canceled planned Egypt-EU meetings this week, and has threatened to cut off relations with the EP, and the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. Conversely, human rights activists have largely welcomed the EP's attention. Overall, the EP's measure is useful in terms of raising the GOE's awareness to the fact that its lackluster human rights record has created an international image problem for Egypt not just with the U.S., but also with its European friends. End summary. -------------- GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS LOUDLY ... -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Egyptian government has vigorously protested the EP's resolution, calling in all EU ambassadors to the MFA to voice irritation about the resolution and to cancel the planned January 23-24 meeting of the EU-Egypt Subcommittee on Political Matters. "Denouncements" and "rejections" of the resolution were issued over the past few days by Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Speaker of the People's Assembly Fathi Surour, Speaker of the Shura Council and SYG of the National Democratic Party Safwat El Sherif, and Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mufeed Shehab. All of the statements condemned the EP's actions "as a flagrant interference in the country's domestic affairs." Speaker Surour threatened to break off links with the European Parliament: "We will consider cutting ties ... as long as it continues to use the language of command and condescension." He has also threatened an Egyptian boycott of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. On January 19, Egypt's Shura Council "condemned" the EP resolution, releasing a statement that, "Egypt has never and can never accept interference in its internal affairs from any party, even a friend .... the act represents a violation of all parliamentary traditions and a violation of the norms that govern international relations." ¶3. (C) Several government denunciations have noted that the EP resolution was "based on inaccurate information and unsubstantiated claims," and have intimated that Israel is somehow responsible for the resolution. For example, MFA spokesman Hossam Zaki noted in comments to journalists that the resolution's mention of the Gaza border, "raises much doubt about the motives which pushed some of the European parliamentarians and their links with those who benefit from constantly exaggerating the issue." Speaker Surour was quoted in the January 23 pro-government Al Ahram newspaper as saying that "Israeli lies" were behind the EP's action. A senior-ranking MFA official told us that the prevalent rumor in the MFA is that the EP issued the resolution only after being pressured to do so by the U.S. Congress. -------------- -------------- ... WHILE ACTIVISTS LARGELY WELCOME THE RESOLUTION -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) Egyptian activists have been somewhat split regarding the EP's resolution, with a few bridling publicly at European "interference," but many more welcoming the measure. Nour's wife Gameela Ismail (who is in touch with some EP MP's) told journalists that the resolution "reflects the status of HR conditions in Egypt" and expressed her surprise at the "hysterical" Egyptian reaction. Bahey El Din Hassan, Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, told us that the resolution is "helpful." He views it as a message to Egyptians that "what is happening here is noticed outside of Egypt," and feels it contributes to the growing openess of the human rights discussion domestically. Judges Ahmed Mekki and Hisham Bastawisi, noted advocates of judicial independence, both lauded the measure, telling the independent Al Dustour newspaper that the EP's recommendations were the same that those concerned with human CAIRO 00000107 002 OF 004 rights in Egypt had long promoted. The Muslim Brotherhood's parliamentary bloc welcomed the resolution, with the deputy head of the bloc commenting, "it is the government's ongoing abusive behaviors with regard to human rights in Egypt that have yielded this." However, a group of lawyers affiliated with the MB were quoted on the MB's website as "rejecting" the resolution, due to the EP's double-standards ("Why has no resolution been issued about Israel's massacres of civilians in the Gaza Strip?"). Kefaya rejected the resolution, issuing a statement that the resolution, "does not concern us, but rather, we are concerned with the Egyptian regime that takes grants that allow others to interfere in our affairs and even slap us." -------------- THE EUROPEAN RESPONSE -------------- ¶5. (C) At this point, our European counterparts are vacillating between bemusement over the situation ("why is the GOE demarching us? Don't they understand that we do not control the actions of the EP?") to annoyance with the EP for issuing such a "counter-productive" and "mistaken" resolution, to frustration that the Egyptian "outsized" response has "created a mini-crisis." The EU ambassador to Cairo told journalists that the entire affair is "a tempest in a teacup" and that he hoped the "spat" would pass soon and "not interrupt business." EP President Hans-Gert Poettering will reportedly visit Cairo later this week or next, to discuss the issue. European colleagues here are particularly struck by the "havoc" that is being wreaked by a resolution that was passed by only a fraction of the EP's 785 members. According to the EP's website (www.europarl.europa.eu) the resolution passed with 52 votes, no votes against, and 7 abstentions, meaning only 6.6 percent of the EP's members endorsed it. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) The Egyptian government seems taken by surprise by the strong tone of the resolution, and by the fact that such public criticism is coming from the usually muted European corner. While accustomed to unwelcome statements from the USG on human rights and democracy issues, the Europeans rarely press Egypt on such topics. The European bilateral missions in Cairo appear to have no appetite to do so now; frustrated with the EP, they are hoping to bide their time and wait for this "rough patch" to blow over. Some local political analysts speculate the GOE's "overreaction" to the EP resolution is a calculated effort with which Egypt hopes to discourage any similar criticism from the Europeans in the future. Given the GOE's defensiveness, it is unlikely that the EP statement will have much positive impact in the short-term on the specific issues raised. Overall, however, the EP's measure is useful in terms of raising the GOE's awareness to the fact that its lackluster human rights record has created an international image problem for Egypt, not just with the U.S., but also with its European friends. -------------- THE RESOLUTION -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The text of the EP's resolution follows: European Parliament Resolution on the Situation in Egypt The European Parliament, - Having regard to its previous resolutions on the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, - Having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2007 on serious events which compromise Christian communities' existence and those of other religious communities, - Having regard to the Barcelona Declaration of November 1995, - Having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on "Reinvigorating EU actions on human rights and democratization with Mediterranean partners ) strategic guidelines," - Having regard to the first conference of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network in Cairo on 26 and 27 CAIRO 00000107 003 OF 004 July 2006, - Having regard to the UN Convention against Torture of 1984, - Having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights, - Having regard to Article 19 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as ratified by Egypt in 1982, - Having regard to the International Convention against all forms of Discrimination against Women, - Having regard to the work programme adopted at the Barcelona Summit of Heads of State and Government in November 2005, - Having regard to the conclusions of the 5th European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments, adopted on 26 November 2005 in Barcelona, - Having regard to the resolutions adopted by the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) on 27 March 2006 and the declaration by its President, - Having regard to its resolution of 19 January 2006 on the European Neighborhood Policy, - Having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure, ¶A. Whereas the European Union and Egypt signed a European Neighborhood policy joint action plan in March 2007 which sets out priorities among which particular attention should be given to enhancing the effectiveness of institutions entrusted with strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the promotion of human rights in all their aspects, ¶B. Whereas the promotion of respect for democracy, human rights and civil liberties are fundamental principles and aims of the European Union and constitute common ground for the development of the Euro-Mediterranean area, ¶C. Whereas it attaches great importance to relations with Egypt and considers fair and transparent elections as the only way to make progress towards a more democratic society, and underlining the importance of Egypt and EU-Egypt relations for the stability and development of the EU-Mediterranean area, ¶D. Whereas the Egyptian authorities have promised to put an end to the imprisonment of journalists, but this promise has so far gone unfulfilled, ¶E. Whereas the opposition presidential candidate Ayman Nour is still serving a five-year prison sentence following an unfair trial in 2005 on politically motivated charges, and whereas his HEALTH is deteriorating as a consequence of this imprisonment, ¶F. Having regard to the closure of the Center for Trade Union and Workers, Services and its branches, the first time an advocacy NGO has been closed down by an executive decision, and the closing down of the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid (AHRLA) and the ensuing verdict against the human rights activist Kamal Abbas, the general coordinator of the center, for committing libel against Mohammed Mostafa, following his publication of an essay in Kalam Sanya, ¶G. Whereas the Copts, the Baha'i, the Shiites, the Koranists and members of other religious minorities are still sadly crippled by sectarian isolation, ¶1. Recognizes the role that Egypt plays in the Middle East peace process and the importance that EU-Egypt relations have for the entire Euro-Mediterranean area, but points out that respect for human rights is a fundamental value of the EU-Egypt Association Agreement and reaffirms the importance of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for promoting the rule of law and fundamental freedoms; ¶2. Considers that the recent arrests and action against NGOs and human rights defenders undermines the commitments entered into by the Egyptian Government concerning fundamental rights and freedoms and the democratic process in the country; supports the "campaign by non-governmental organizations for freedom of organization" launched on 13 May 2007 by 34 NGOs as a follow-up to the first collective report CAIRO 00000107 004 OF 004 on "administrative and security harassment"; ¶3. Calls on the Egyptian Government to end all forms of harassment, including judicial measures, detention of media professionals and, more generally, human rights defenders and activists calling for reforms and to fully respect freedom of expression, in conformity with Article 19 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been signed and ratified by Egypt; ¶4. Encourages the Egyptian Government to honor its undertaking to lift the state of emergency on 31 May 2008; asks the Egyptian authorities to amend law No 25 of 1966 on martial courts, which is ONE of the major obstacles to the full enjoyment of fundamental freedoms, and to ensure that all measures and legislation adopted to fight against terrorism are fully in accordance with international human rights law; ¶5. Strongly supports measures to guarantee academic freedom, freedom of the media and freedom of private religious belief; in that connection, calls for arbitrary administrative measures, such as those taken against the Center for Trade Union and Workers' Services and the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid to be rescinded; calls for the release of Kamal Abbas and other activists; urges that the law on associations should not impose arbitrary restrictions on the peaceful activities of civil society organizations; ¶6. Calls for the immediate release of Ayman Nour, in the light of the reports of his deteriorating state of health, and calls for an immediate welfare visit, including qualified medical personnel; ¶7. Stresses the need to fully implement the principles of the 1969 OAU Convention and the 1993 International Convention concerning the rights and the protection of migrant workers and their families; supports the concluding observations of the UN Committee on Migrant Works of May 2007 which called for the re-opening of the investigations into the killing of 27 Sudanese asylum-seekers in December 2005; ¶8. Calls for an end to all forms of torture and ill-treatment and calls for investigations when there is reasonable suspicion that acts of torture have occurred; calls on the Egyptian Government to allow a visit by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; ¶9. Underlines the importance of ensuring and strengthening the independence of the judiciary by amending or repealing all legal provisions that infringe or do not sufficiently guarantee its independence; stresses the need for respect for and protection of the freedoms of association and expression for judges, in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary; ¶10. Welcomes the Egyptian efforts to secure the border with Gaza and encourages all sides concerned to step up the fight against smuggling through tunnels into the Gaza strip; ¶11. Urges the EU to put human rights developments very high on its agenda during the forthcoming meeting of the EU-Egypt Subcommittee on Political Matters; calls on the Council and the Commission to report back to it and to closely involve it in the evaluation process; ¶12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Egyptian Government and Parliament, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Mediterranean countries which are signatories to the Barcelona Declaration and the President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. Ricciardone