LONDON
British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg stated that Egypt's first elected President Mohamed Morsi must be guaranteed a "fair trial" and that Egyptian authorities should be consistent with the assurances they gave about the issue.
Clegg, the leader of the partner in the coalition government - the Liberal Democrats (Lib Dem), assessed Monday's trial of Egypt's first elected President Mohamed Morsi, Turkey's EU membership and the Cyprus issue in response to questions from AA and other reporters at a reception hosted by himself in honour of representatives of the Muslim community at Admiralty House, Whitehall in British capital London on Wednesday evening.
"The Egyptian authorities have assured the world that it will be a fair trial. So it's now important that the trial is conducted in a way which is consistent with assurances that the Egyptian authorities have given. I am sure the rest of the world will want to observe very carefully what is happening in the trial to be comforted that it is been conducted with the right principles in mind," he said about the trial during which Morsi made his first public appearence since his July 3 overthrown by the military and subsequent detainment.
This week also saw the opening of Chapter 22, on regional policy and the coordination of structural instruments, for the revitalization of Turkey's EU membership negotiation process after a three year halt.
When asked of his view on Turkey's EU membership process, Clegg replied that Turkey was such an important country and he was a "huge supporter" of Turkish membership of the European Union.
Touching on Turkey's economic and strategic importance, he said, "Economically, geostrategically, it of course quite literally is at the crossroads of so many different historical and cultural forces. Turkey has an understanding of some of the volatile parts of the world which I think is very important, too."
Reminding of the meeting between himself and Turkish President Abdullah Gul in New York late September while participating at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, Clegg said they had discussed Turkey's EU membership process back in New York and that he had visited Turkey a few months ago.
Nick Clegg also stressed the importance of progress on resolving the Cyprus issue and underscored, "The Cypriot question has cast a shadow far far too long and I think everybody in the EU would like to see it resolved as quickly as possible."
When asked if the UK would be a "mediator" over the Cyprus issue, he replied, "We play a role within the UN framework and, as you know, we have a special status within those talks and we will continue to play that particular role."
The island has been divided into Greek and Turkish sides during the Greek Cypriot coup, which was followed by a Turkish peace mission to aid Turkish Cypriots in the north in 1974.
- "Further 18.5 million GBP aid for Syrians"
Stating that he had always been moved by the Hajj pilgrimage, Clegg said that people congregating dressed in the same white garments while understanding that everybody is equal was a "very beautiful thing."
Clegg also announced further British aid for Syrians in Jordan and said, "I announce to you this evening, this is an announcement I am making to you first, that we in the government just decided today that we will be allocating a further 18,5 million GBP of your genorosity, of the British tax payers' genorosity, to UNHCR to help specifically those many many refugees in Jordan who fled from home, fled from their communities in Syria."
englishnews@aa.com.tr
