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Foreign Office Minister welcomes Egypt referendum

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt has spoken following Egypt's referendum on Constitutional amendments on 19 March.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Speaking today the Foreign Office Minister said:

“We welcome Egypt’s referendum on Constitutional amendments which took place on 19 March. This is an important part of the transitional process to a civilian democratic government to which the Egyptian authorities have made a commitment to a transition. The referendum has fostered debate on an important issue.”

“We also welcome the peaceful atmosphere and the high turnout of the referendum, which demonstrates the confidence of the Egyptian people in the integrity of the process.”

“Whilst the UK recognises that it is for the Egyptian people to choose their own future and to build a sustainable, stable and democratic system, we encourage the Egyptian government to set out a credible timetable for elections which would allow sufficient time for the development of effective political parties and to continue to consider wider Constitutional reform in due course.”

Published 21 March 2011