EU to review assistance to Egypt

BRUSSELS, Aug 21 (KUNA) -- Foreign Ministers of the 28-member European Union ended their extraordinary meeting on Egypt this afternoon after agreeing to review economic assistance to Egypt and to suspend exports licences for material used for internal repression, EU High Represntative Catherine Ashton told a press conference.
"We strongly condemn all acts of violence and we do believe that the recent operation of the security forces have been disproportionate and we are worried about the alarming number of people killed. We also condemn acts of terrorism such as murder of policemen in Sinai and attacks against Coptic churches and mosques," she said.
The ministers in a statement called on the Egyptian authorities to end the state of emergency, to release all political prisoners and urged all political parties to engage in real inclusive dialogue to restore the political process.
They agreed to review the issue of assistance to Egypt but assistance to the most vulnerable groups and to civil society must continue, said Ashton.
EU member states have agreed to suspend export licences to Egypt of any equipment used for internal repression and to review their security assistance with Egypt, she added. (pick up previous) nk.tg KUNA 211901 Aug 13NNNN