EU LEADERS called for an immediate “transition” process in Egypt as tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in a “day of departure” protest against president Hosni Mubarak.
After a lunchtime discussion of the violent government crackdown against the Egyptian uprising, European leaders said in Brussels that the authorities in Cairo should meet their peoples’ aspiration with reform and not repression.
“All parties should show restraint and avoid further violence and begin an orderly transition to a broad based government,” the leaders said in a communique.
“The European Council underlined that this transition process must start now.” With the response of the Egyptian army to the uprising still in the balance, European diplomats fear the emergence of a violent power vacuum in the country.
Ireland believes the European Union must be consistent in its message that the transition in Egypt must be “peaceful, orderly and accelerated” and lead to free and fair elections.
Ireland has made the case that it is unacceptable for the Egyptian state to sponsor or tolerate violence against peaceful protesters. In this view, a peaceful transition is more likely to produce the type of broad-based, inclusive government that is likely to work constructively with the Western powers.
Dublin believes the transition should begin immediately, arguing an extended period of tension and violence has the potential to radicalise all sides.
Diplomats believe this could result in growing resentment against some figures, particularly in the Western world, who might be judged to be impeding or delaying an immediate transition.
In addition to their concern about the potential for further bloodshed in Egypt, European leaders fear the unrest could further destabilise the fragile Middle East peace process.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton chairs a meeting today in Munich of the Middle East quartet group, which compromises the US, Russia, the EU and the United Nations.
Ms Ashton plans to travel to Cairo to meet Mr Mubarak’s newly-appointed vice president, Omar Suleiman.
She spoke by phone with Mr Suleiman on Thursday afternoon “to hear his assessment of the situation”.
In Brussels yesterday, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi described Mr Mubarak as a wise man and called for an orderly transition to democracy.
“I hope that in Egypt there can be a transition toward a more democratic system without a break from President Mubarak, who in the West, above all in the United States, is considered the wisest of men and a precise reference point,” he said. “I hope there can be continuity in government.”
