The European Union External Relations Council discussed the eastern and southern neighbours
10 October 2011 News
The release and rehabilitation of political prisoners in Belarus, followed by elections and a transition to democracy, are our main objectives in dialogue with Minsk, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov said during a meeting of the European Union’s External Relations Council in Luxembourg.
The Council, of 27 EU foreign ministers, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, imposed additional sanctions on Belarus (http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/125002.pdf).
During debate on the EU’s eastern neighbours, Minister Mladenov supported finalisation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Ukraine. But he emphasised that ratification by the European Parliament and by member states will depend on the principle of rule of law in Ukraine and on the outcome of the trial of Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, in line with EU principles.
In discussions about the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister emphasised that timing is critically important to the process that began with the Arab Spring. The events of the previous day in Egypt should be a signal to the European Union to work for respect of minority rights and religious freedom throughout the region, he said.
Mladenov dwelt on the continuing repression in Syria, and again called for the inclusion of the Arab League and the Gulf Co-operation Council in efforts to overcome the crisis.
In their conclusions, EU foreign ministers described as positive the steps to unite the Syrian opposition (http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/125002.pdf).