BELGIUM: European Union foreign ministers say they stand united in condemning acts of violence in Egypt as member states agree a plan to review assistance to the country

Record ID: 859912

  • Title: BELGIUM: European Union foreign ministers say they stand united in condemning acts of violence in Egypt as member states agree a plan to review assistance to the country
  • Date: 21st August 2013
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (AUGUST 21, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRIUMPHAL ARCH
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2013 13:00
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  • Location: Belgium
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2P8RSYS6O2AKC98NNJPK0O31V
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  • Story Text: European Union foreign ministers confirmed that they had agreed to review assistance to Egypt following a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday (August 21).
    The urgent talks were convened to discuss the ongoing political crisis in the country which has sparked a wave of violent clashes which have killed at least 900 people in the past week.
    European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting that whilst vulnerable civilians needed to be protected, the bloc had agreed to review assistance to Egypt.
    British Foreign Secretary William Hague was quick to stress the unanimity of feeling among his European colleagues.
    "All ministers have been reflecting the strong condemnation of disproportionate acts of the Egyptian security forces but also of the actions of some of those opposed to the authorities in attacking churches and hospitals which are totally unacceptable acts of terrorism," he said.
    His French counterpart Laurent Fabius echoed Hague's sentiments, referring to decisions taken at the meeting to suspend any supply of arms which could be used internally in the conflict.
    Allegations of a deadly gas attack in Syria which may have killed many hundreds were also the topic of discussion, Fabius said.
    "France condemns in the strongest way possible the massacre in Damascus and demands an immediate inquiry. Allegations that there may have been the large-scale use of chemical weapons are exceptionally serious. There is a United Nations team in Damascus at the moment and the Syrian authorities have to be compelled to allow the team from the United Nations to do its job and that's France's position," he told reporters.
    U.N. sources have said that they are in discussions with the Syrian government over the alleged attack with France, Britain and the United States calling for a probe.
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