EU foreign ministers discuss Ukraine, Syria and Venezuela
18 Февруари 2019 Новини
Ukraine, Syria, Venezuela, and the Horn of Africa were the main topics on the agenda of the Council of Foreign Affairs meeting that took place in Brussels today. Bulgaria was represented at the meeting by Ekaterina Zaharieva, the Foreign Minister, who is also Deputy Prime Minister in charge of judicial reform.
The top EU diplomats reiterated the strong support of the European Council for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and made a fresh, insistent appeal for the immediate release of the Ukrainian seamen captured in November 2018. They discussed concrete measures in response to Russia’s illegal actions in the Sea of Azov and in support of the directly affected regions of Ukraine.
‘Through today’s discussion, held on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Euromaidan, we send a clear message in support of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as of the diplomatic efforts for a sustainable and peaceful settlement of the conflict in the eastern part of the country,’ Minister Zakharieva said in her statement. On the subject of reforms, she noted that we should acknowledge the progress Ukraine has made against the backdrop of continuing threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
‘In the context of the upcoming elections, we should support Ukraine’s efforts to counteract any attempts at foreign interference and any disinformation attacks,’ the Bulgarian Foreign Minister also said. Another important point is the need for the Ukrainian authorities to guarantee the rights of national minorities, especially in pursuing the reforms in the sphere of education, the State’s language policy and decentralization, Ekaterina Zakharieva also said.
The Council of Foreign Affairs also discussed Syria in the context of the upcoming Third Conference in support of the country and region, scheduled to be held in Brussels in March. The participants discussed the new dynamic since the announced withdrawal of US troops. They expressed their concern with the security challenges in the province of Idlib and north-eastern Syria, as well as the impeded access for humanitarian assistance. The ministers stated their support for the new UN special envoy Geir Pedersen, underscoring the need for the Damascus regime to commit itself in earnest to the peace process.
The foreign ministers continued to follow closely developments in Venezuela. They welcomed the results of the first meeting of the International Contact Group of Montevideo, reconfirming the need for free, fair and transparent presidential elections as the only way out of the deep political crisis. They also reiterated their concern about the grave humanitarian situation in Venezuela and its cross-border impact.
The High Representative Federica Mogherini reported to the Council about her visit to the Horn of Africa the previous week. A review was made of developments in the Sudan and Somalia, as well as the new dynamic of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The participants expressed concern about the security challenges, evidenced by the recent terrorist attacks in Mogadishu and Nairobi.
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