Iran and Syria the main topics at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting

Tuomioja with Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal, his Estonian colleague Urmas Paet and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. Photo: The Council of the European Union. According to Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme have increased with the IAEA report. Any ideas about a potential unilateral military strike against Iran are inacceptable. “The consequences of a military strike could be regionally and globally destructive,” Tuomioja underscored at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday 14 November.

“We want to continue to make diplomatic efforts. New restrictive measures are possible,” Foreign Minister Tuomioja said, summarising the view of Finland and the majority of EU countries.

New sanctions against Syria

Another main topic of the meeting was Syria and additional sanctions against it. “We support, for instance, the demand of the Arab League to reintroduce the case of Syria at the UN Security Council. Sanctions against Syria will also be increased,” Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said.

“The Syrian leadership has not held its promises. Instead, it has continued the brutal repression of its own people,” Foreign Minister Tuomioja pointed out to Finnish correspondents in his press conference.

Accordingly, the foreign ministers highlighted the EU’s willingness to support strong UN action to increase international pressure against the leaders of Syria. In their 14 November meeting, the foreign ministers decided to suspend the disbursement of European Investment Bank (EIB) loans to Syria and add new names to the 'blacklist’ of individuals responsible or associated with the repression and supporting or benefiting from the current regime.

Crisis management resources have to be in order

The Foreign Minister also explained to Finnish journalists the situation of the development of the Common Security and Defence Policy. “Establishment of a permanent planning and command capability for EU crisis management operations would be appropriate,” Foreign Minister Tuomioja pointed out. The project is part of the ‘Weimar Initiative’ of Germany, France and Poland, and one of the key objectives for the Polish EU Presidency.

“I am not one of those people who think that fires are necessary once a fire brigade has been established. But if a fire brigade has been established, it should function as well as possible should there be a fire," Foreign Minister Tuomioja said describing the need to enhance the EU crisis management capability. The planning and command arrangements of military crisis management within the EU no longer meet the practical needs of actual operations. “The development work must continue,” Tuomioja stated.

Further information: Katja Pehrman, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 40 181 9257; Press Counsellor Jussi Seppälä, tel. +32 476 950 547