The EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss the Middle East peace process and the Southern Neighbourhood, Iran and the situation in Belarus
Press release 257/2011
7 October 2011
The EU Foreign Affairs Council will convene in Luxembourg on 10 October. The main topics of the meeting are the Middle East peace process, the situation in the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, Iran and Belarus. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will represent Finland at the meeting.
The Council will discuss the situation regarding the Middle East peace process now that the Palestinian President Abbas has submitted the membership application of the State of Palestine to the UN Secretary-General on 23rd September. The Middle East Quartet (the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations) has presented a proposal on the launching of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Finland considers it highly important that the parties resume negotiations and with regard to this objective, Finland considers that the EU has a key role to play in the Quartet.
The Council will also discuss the current situation in countries of the Southern Neighbourhood of the Union, particularly in especially Libya, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen. As concerns Libya, the discussion will focus on the EU’s role in supporting Libya’s transition. Finland is ready to support transition in Libya as the country develops its institutional capacity, and to provide support for democracy. As concerns Egypt and Tunisia, the upcoming elections are among the topics of discussion. The Council will continue discussion on measures directed at the Syrian government in order to end the violence. In addition, developments pertaining to the situation in Yemen will be discussed.
The Foreign Ministers will also discuss Iran’s worrisome human rights situation and the country’s nuclear programme. Finland considers it important that the Union acts efficiently to promote human rights in Iran through effective sanctions and other means of influence.
The Foreign Ministers will discuss the situation in Belarus and the continuation of EU sanctions. Finland supports the continuation and expansion of sanctions, and thinks that the EU should continue its policy of sanctions with regard to Belarus until the country’s government implements the explicit measures required by the Union, relating to the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners. The intention is, further, for the Foreign Ministers to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the negotiations on the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, which are in the final stage.
Another item on the Foreign Affairs Council’s agenda is preparation of the EU–China Summit, to be held in Tianjin on 25th October.
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