Egypt Condemns EU Statement; Summons EU Ambassadors

Egypt has summoned the ambassadors of European Union countries to protest a recent EU statement to the UN Human Rights Council which criticised the country’s human rights records.

The foreign ministry yesterday said that the EU’s statement “lack of insinuate” was issued at a time when the terrorist attacks are escalating in the region.

“Egypt condemns the EU’s attitude regarding its internal situation,” said Badr Abdel-Aaty, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

The EU, in a recent statement to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, had expressed concern over the human rights record in Egypt, citing “random detention of activists and opposition figures”.

EU’s statement also condemned terrorist attacks across Egypt which have killed several civilians and security forces while highlighting the killings of protesters and security forces since June 30 last year when the mass protests led to the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi.

“The EU statement is reflecting the duplication in the European attitude, which seeks to mobilise international support for fighting terrorism, and is raising questions about the EU efforts regarding fighting terrorism,” said the ministry’s statement.

Egypt, which is the main line of defense against terrorism in the region criticised the union for portraying it in the negative light and said it confirms the inaction of EU in supporting Egypt in its fight against terrorism.

Source: Press Trust of India