Ashton, Bahaa el-Deen discuss situation in Egypt

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton met here Wednesday evening with the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa El-Deen and discussed the political and economic situation in Egypt. "The Deputy Prime Minister briefed me on the implementation of the political road map according to which a democratic and civil government should be in place by summer 2014. Among other things, I raised the worrying reports I have received on the security forces' violent dispersal and arrests during yesterday's protests against military trials," she said in a statement last night. "While I acknowledged that Egypt's stability and the population's need for a secure environment is important, I underlined that fundamental human rights have to be respected at all times. This is particularly relevant in the context of Egypt's ongoing constitutional process which should result in a constitution safeguarding the rights and obligations of all Egyptians," stated Ashton. The two officials also discussed Egypt's economic situation, and Ashton noted that EU assistance to the socio-economic sector and to civil society will continue. "Today, we have signed a Financing Agreement worth 90 million euro for Egypt. This assistance will enhance the access of children, especially girls, to education and will fight child-labour in the poorest areas of Egypt. It will also help civil society groups to provide socio-economic assistance in the most deprived areas of Egypt. Those most in need will also benefit from improvements in unplanned housing, which represents an estimated half of the built-up area in the Greater Cairo Region," she said