Syria: EU Presidency Declaration on the sentence of Mr. Meshal Tammo by the Damascus Criminal Court

The European Union deeply regrets the decision by the Damascus Criminal Court on 11 May 2009 to sentence Mr. Meshal Tammo the spokesman of Kurdish Future Movement to three and half year imprisonment for allegedly "spreading false information" and "weakening national sentiment."

The European Union reiterates its commitment to the freedom of expression and the right of all Syrian Citizens to a fair trial, as laid down in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Syria on 21 April 1969.

The European Union urgently calls on Syria to respect its international commitments and to release Mr. Meshal Tammo and all other prisoners of conscience.

"The Candidate Countries Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.


* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process."

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