Croatia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marija Pejcinovic-Buric, in Brussels on Monday attended a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, a body gathering foreign ministers of all EU countries, which discussed the Eastern Partnership programme, the situation in Libya, and the bloc's relationship with North Korea.
The discussion on the implementation of the goals of Eastern Partnership (EaP) between the European Union and six countries in Eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus took place in preparation for a ministerial meeting of the Eastern Partnership in October this year, and for marking next year’s 10th anniversary of this initiative.
The Eastern Partnership includes six EU partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, and aims to provide an avenue where they can discuss matters of economy, trade, travel agreements, good governance, and others, with the European Union.
The meeting said that all 20 goals defined at the summits in Riga in 2015 and Brussels in 2017 were being implemented well, and that it was crucial for all the partner countries to continue their reforms.
The Council discussed the situation in Libya where the EU continues to support efforts by UN special envoy Ghassan Salame in mediating between Libyan parties to create prerequisites for a political transition, and talks on a solution that would be acceptable to all the parties involved.
The EU is also providing support to Un’s efforts in Libya through the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya and Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean aimed at combating migrant smuggling, and is assisting the Libyan coastguard in strengthening its capabilities. Croatia said it supports these efforts, and the plan is to further strengthen activities in response to the challenges posed by migrations.
The Council also discussed North Korea and the recent positive developments following the summits between leaders of North Korea and South Korea, and between the United States and North Korea, and welcomed the positive elements agreed at the high-level meetings.
The EU will continue to support the political process and efforts towards a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea, and will continue its humanitarian involvement given the difficult situation and poor living conditions in the country.
The Council briefly discussed other current international issues, including the nuclear deal with Iran, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in light of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Statute of Rome treaty that established it in 1998, as well as Southeast Europe in the context of the recent Berlin Process 16+1 summit in London, the statement said.
Follow N1 via mobile apps for Android | iPhone/iPad | Windows| and social media on Twitter | Facebook.
