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<p>The European Union election observation mission to Egypt issued a preliminary statement
on 29 May. Their headline assessment was “Presidential elections administered in line
with the law, in an environment falling short of constitutional principles”. We followed
the presidential election closely and staff from our Cairo Embassy took part in the
EU's Electoral Observation Mission. The EU Observation Mission will issue its full
report in due course.</p><p>The EU Observation Mission reflected concern about the
Egyptian public's ability to express political dissent and exercise freedom of speech
or association. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt.
Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised these concerns in the
run up to the elections with his Egyptian counterpart, most recently on 14 May, and
in a statement on 3 June. We look to President Sisi to take steps to implement the
rights contained in Egypt's constitution by opening up political space, especially
with regard to freedom of expression and association.</p>
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