As the EU stops sending arms to Egypt, a fear of loosing a key partner in the Middle East is rising. By Alice Tegle, correspondent, EgyptianStreets.com The European Union has suspended all arms exports to Egypt that can be used for ‘internal repression.’ “Member States agreed to suspend export licenses to Egypt of any equipment which might be used for internal repression and to reassess export licences of equipment and review their security assistance with Egypt,” stated EU’s head of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Catherine Ashton in a news conference Wednesday. The conclusion came after the extraordinary meeting with EU’s foreign ministers, followed by weeks of bloodshed and sectarian clashes in Egypt. The council also strongly condemned the violence from both sides of the conflict, and the army’s “disproportionate use” in particular. In reaction to the authorities’ violent crackdown last Wednesday, a number of EU countries like Denmark and Germany have already taken first steps and cut their development aid to Cairo. Saudi Arabia to the rescue Albeit harsh critique, Ms. Ashton stressed the importance of Egyptian-European relations, as well as her willingness to mediate further to find a political way out…
