28/09/2011 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 28.09.2011 - Representatives of several Egyptian political parties will be in Strasbourg during PACE’s next plenary session, in response to the invitation addressed by Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD), rapporteur on co-operation with the emerging democracies in the Arab world, and Konstantinos Vrettos (Greece, SOC), rapporteur on the situation in the Middle East, at the end of their visit to Cairo from 23 to 27 September 2011.
The visit to Cairo offered the rapporteurs the opportunity to discuss the prospects of cooperation between Egypt and the Council of Europe in general and with the Parliamentary Assembly in particular, including via the Status for Partnership of Democracy recently created by PACE for the parliaments in the neighbouring regions. The rapporteurs met with representatives of political parties, the media, human rights and women’ rights organisations, as well as representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs and justice. The discussions also focused on the forthcoming parliamentary elections as well as the schedule for the preparation of a new Constitution and presidential elections.
Mr Gardetto also met Major-General Morad Mohamad Ahmad Mowafy, Head (in the rank of a Minister) of the General Intelligence Service.
Mr Gardetto will present his report on “Co-operation between the Council of Europe and the emerging democracies in the Arab world” to the Assembly during the autumn plenary session (3-7 October 2011).