Iran, the Middle East peace process and the situation in Burma on the extensive EU Foreign Affairs Council agenda
Press release 18/2012
20 January 2012
The first meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in 2012 will take place in Brussels on 23 January. The meeting agenda includes Iran, the Middle East peace process, Syria, Egypt, Burma/Myanmar, Belarus, Sudan and South Sudan as well as Serbia and Kosovo. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will represent Finland at the meeting.
The Foreign Ministers will discuss the Iranian nuclear programme and the EU’s actions in accordance with the guidelines agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in December and approved by the European Council. In December the Council agreed to further extend EU’s restrictive measures with the regard to the Iranian nuclear programme. At the same time the reopening of negotiations with Iran is stressed.
The Council will also discuss the Middle East peace process and the possibilities of EU support for a continuation of the negotiation process between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators after the meetings in Jordan. With regard to Syria, the discussion will focus on the latest situation in view of the findings of the Arab League’s observation mission. The Council will continue discussion on stricter sanctions directed at the Syrian regime in order to end the violence.
The Foreign Ministers will also discuss the Union’s reactions to recent positive developments in Burma. The latest positive news was the significant large-scale release of prisoners on 13 January.
The Foreign Ministers will discuss the EU’s actions, such as the continuation of sanctions, with regard to the situation in Belarus. Other topics on the agenda for the Foreign Affairs Council meeting are the implications of the elections in Egypt, the tension between Sudan and South Sudan, as well as Serbia and Kosovo. The review of the situation in Serbia and Kosovo dialogue paves the way for the discussions to be held by the General Affairs Council in February and the European Council in March.
Additional information: European correspondent Tarja Fernández, mobile tel. +358 40 590 9855, and Katja Pehrman, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, mobile tel. +358 40 181 9257