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| Human Rights in the Euro-Med Region | Date: 15-10-1998 |
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Meeting of EMHRN's Executive Committee in Cairo: Human Rights in the Euro-Mediterranean Region On 9-10 October 1998, the Executive Committee of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network gathered for a meeting hosted by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. The EC deeply regrets that Mr Khader Shkirat, treasurer of the Network and director of the Palestinian human rights organisation LAW, was refused an entry visa at the last moment by the Egyptian authorities. Not only did it prevent Mr Shkirat from contributing to the discussions at the meeting, but it also runs counter to the spirit of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership aiming at turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchange and cooperation. During the meeting the EC discussed initiatives in relation to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Euro-Mediterranean region: The EC looks forward to a constructive dialogue between civil society and the Euro-Mediterranean partnership at the summit in Stuttgart, 15-16 April 1999, and has decided that the next meeting of the General Assembly will take place in Stuttgart on this occasion. Among the themes to be discussed is the relation between freedom of association and economic and social development. The EC decided to prepare a mission to Syria to inquire into Mr Nizar Nayouf's state of health and the conditions of his detainment. Mr Nizar Nayouf, writer and human rights activist, is currently serving a ten-year sentence at Mezze military prison in Damascus, Syria. Mr Nayouf was recently diagnosed with the early stages of Hodgkin's disease (leukaemia) and has, according to our information, been denied the medical care necessary to treat his serious illness unless he renounces his political beliefs, pledges to refrain from political activity, and signs an admission that he made "false declarations concerning the situation of human rights in Syria". The EC discussed the situation of the Tunisian Human Rights League, member of the Network, and decided to elaborate a programme of support for the Tunisian human rights defenders in cooperation with the members of the Network. The EC expressed its concern about the recent agreements between Italy, Tunisia and Morocco on readmission of migrants without legal documents. In particular, the EC worries about Italian identification procedures of third country nationals and about the inclusion in the agreements of non-Tunisian and non-Moroccan citizens. Finally, the EC noted the difficulty in making short and long term plans since funding for the Network has not yet been released after the unblocking by the EU of temporarily suspended budget lines. The EC thanks the Danish government for its support during the past year. Copenhagen, October 15, 1998 |
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