Ashton Calls for ‘Supporting the Arab Awakening’

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton published in the New York Times a piece calling for the support of the “emerging democracies” in the Arab world.

Ashton reckoned that democracy can be “‘turbulent and unpredictable, ” however she believes that “ democracy sets down roots, with the rule of law, human rights, gender equality, impartial administration, free speech and private investment, as well as honest elections, countries prosper and seek to live in peace with those around them. ”

She pointed out that in one year there were  ”free and fair elections in Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. ” In Tunisia the Islamist Ennahda party entered in a coalition, in Morocco the King faces an emancipated Prime Minister from the  recently elected  Justice and Freedom party, and  Egypt saw  ”the first democratically elected Parliament in 60 years” have its first “historic session.”

Ashton affirmed E.U. and U.N. support in Libyan’s democratic transition and said “the newly discovered rights apply whether you are from Syria, Yemen, or for that matter from Jordan, Bahrain and the other Arab monarchies. ” Despite suspicion of Islamists political groups expressed by the western world, she encouraged groups “to engage, work and discuss with all the governments, parliaments and organizations with whom we share our commitment to democracy,” adding that “lumping all Islamists into one and the same category is misleading and unhelpful. ”

Ashton’s called for “mutual trust,” both from new political actors in the Arab world and from the E.U and asserted that she is “delighted that the prime minister of Tunisia, Hamadi Jebali, has accepted our invitation and chosen Brussels for his first official visit abroad.” She claimed that  support has to be both political and economic with the full support of the international community,  financial institutions and  the private sector in order to assist during important time of democratic transition. Ashton concluded saying that the E.U is committed to help “demonstrators who toppled tyrants to live their dream. “