Raad Buitenlandse Zaken: over Syrië, het Oostelijk Partnerschap, Egypte en Myanmar/Burma (en)
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Syria, the Eastern Partnership, Egypt and Myanmar/Burma dominated the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers held on 21 October in Luxembourg. This meeting, the "Foreign Affairs Council", meets monthly and discusses the main international issues facing the European Union and the wider International community. It is chaired by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton i.
The main results of October's meeting can broadly be summarised as follows:
Syrian crisis: Call for Peace Conference welcomed
On the Syrian crisis Ministers said in their official conclusions that the EU continues to be extremely concerned by the deteriorating situation in Syria, which makes it all the more urgent to put an end to all violence and to the suffering of the Syrian people. Only a political solution that results in a united, inclusive and democratic Syria can end the terrible bloodshed, and grave violations of human rights.
They went on to say that the Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the call by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon i for a peace conference in Geneva before the end of November. It urged all sides of the conflict to respond positively to this call and to adhere publicly to a credible political transition based on the full implementation of the Geneva Communiqué.
Catherine Ashton said after the meeting that "from recent reports from those who have visited on my behalf, we are very conscious of disease and real terrible malnutrition becoming a serious problem there. You know that I have said consistently - and the US has said it consistently - that we need to get a political solution and we, more than ever, call for what we have called Geneva II to take place. So I hope this can happen in the course of November. There is no alternative to finding that political solution."
Eastern Partnership: EU "will make every effort to make it a success"
In November the European Union and six countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) that form the "Eastern Partnership" will meet in Vilnius. The summit could see the initialling of the Association Agreements with the Republic of Moldova and with Georgia as well as the signature of the Agreement with Ukraine.
The Council took stock of developments in the EU's Eastern Partnership, in preparation for the Eastern Partnership summit on 28/29 November in Vilnius.
Ministers exchanged views on Ukraine's progress in implementing the conditions for the possible signature of the EU Ukraine Association Agreement. EU Ministers said that in the remaining weeks before the summit, determined action and tangible progress is needed in three areas: the compliance of the 2012 parliamentary elections with international standards, addressing the issue of selective justice and preventing its recurrence, and the implementation of the reforms jointly agreed in the Association Agenda.
Speaking to the Press after the meeting Catherine Ashton said "there is no question that the debate showed and confirmed the ambitions we have for the summit and there is no question too that we will make every effort to make it a success, to strengthen and deepen our collaboration with our Eastern Partners individually as well as a group - and the summit should open a new chapter in the relationships that we have."
Egypt: EU determined to assist to democratic transition
On Egypt Ministers discussed the ongoing situation and the High Representative debriefed them on her recent meeting. She told Foreign Ministers that "I had the chance to debrief the ministers on my most recent visit to Egypt, where I met again with representatives of the different groups in society, including this time the Grand Imam and Coptic Pope. I expressed the desire to continue the strong partnership that we have with Egypt, our determination to push forward in assisting its transition to the democratic future that people went to Tahrir Square in January 2011 to gain. And continuing to support the most needy in Egypt and of course civil society."
She went on to say that "we also recognize the great challenges in Sinai and the threat that has been posed by recent terrorist attacks. I also underlined to ministers the importance of the need to reach out. That outreach needs to continue and there needs to be an inclusive political process. And as always, we looked to the government to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible and to release those held without charge. The process of constitutional reform is moving ahead but, again, we want to see that come into being and we are hoping to receive an invitation to observe the referendum that will take place once the constitution is put forward to the people."
Myanmar/Burma: Talks with Aung San Suu Kyi & an EU TaskForce
During lunch, ministers met with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, opposition leader in Myanmar / Burma and discussed how to support democratic reforms in the country. A Taskforce meeting in November is set to bring EU representatives and businesses to Myanmar / Burma to offer comprehensive EU support for the transition to democracy.
Speaking afterwards, Catherine Ashton said "we were especially interested to discuss how we can support the democratic transition in Myanmar/Burma. You know that we've already lifted our sanctions, that we've reinstated GSP duty free and quota free access, that we are doubling our development aid and we are supporting the peace process. But we recognize there is much more to be done to complete this process, this transition to democracy."
She went on to say "we recognize there is a lot to do on constitutional change to get ready for the free and fair elections in 2015 and also to ensure that other elements for the move forward can be successfully carried out. I'll be visiting the country in November. We have a Task Force there; this is the first time we've taken this idea of a Task Force away from our neighbourhood. We'll be taking with us members of the business community, we'll be taking with us members of the European Parliament."
The Council also adopted conclusions on Yemen, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Central African Republic