The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU: The solution for Syria cannot be a military one
16 April 2018 News
Syria, Russia, Iran and the Western Balkans were the key topics of the Foreign Affairs Council held today in Luxemburg. Bulgaria was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva.
The ministers condemned the use of chemical weapons by the regime in Syria. There was consensus on the fact that the limited airstrikes on targets related to the production and storage of chemical weapons in Syria by US, French and UK forces aimed only at preventing further attacks using such substances.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs re-confirmed the EU’s position that the solution to the conflict in Syria could not be a military one. ‘The only possible solution for the conflict in Syria is the political one, and we have to work together to re-initiate the Geneva Process,’ Minister Zaharieva stated before the other ministers. ‘The EU will not invest in the country’s recovery until this political process has started. We would like to signal that it is high time the UN resolutions on a smooth political transition were implemented. All efforts must be channelled into this.’
In response to a journalist’s question as to whether she believed Russia was open to dialogue, Minister Zaharieva stated that the EU would use all its leverage to reach a solution within the framework of the UN Security Council to reinstate the joint investigative mechanism of the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and in that sense political dialogue would be impossible without Russia’s participation.
Minister Zaharieva confirmed that Bulgaria would participate in the conference on Syria to be held next week, which is to be chaired by the EU and the UN. The conference is a tangible reflection of the support for the efforts to re-initiate the Geneva Process, and of the will to raise extra funds to support the people of Syria and the Syrian refugees in the neighbouring countries.
Ekaterina Zaharieva expressed her gratitude to France and to the United Kingdom for the information provided on the operation conducted in Syria over the weekend. She noted that Bulgaria strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons. ‘The regime must ensure complete access to the mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,’ she stated.
The Western Balkans were also among the key topics on the agenda of the Council. The ministers expressed their concern over the increasing tension between Belgrade and Pristina, highlighting the need to solve problems by means of dialogue. The importance of the Western Balkans countries sharing the EU’s positions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy was emphasised.
Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva updated the other Ministers on the progress made on the preparations of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, which is to be held on 17th of May in Sofia. The summit aims to send a clear political message of support, and to assure the entire region of its European prospects.
‘Many of the Ministers expressed their strong support for this priority of the Bulgarian presidency, and stated that the topic would be continued by the Presidencies to come,’ Minister Zaharieva said.
The highest-ranking diplomats of the 28 member states also discussed the relations with Russia, and confirmed the EU’s position that the complete fulfilment of the Minsk arrangements remains a key condition for any substantive change in relations.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU re-stated their support for the Joint Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme. They discussed the further steps of the EU to ensure that all parties to the agreement continue to fulfil it.
More photos
