Press release regarding the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides, took part today in the session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council that took place in Brussels. The Foreign Ministers' discussions focused on the security situation in Eastern Europe and in particular on the latest developments in Ukraine. Additional topics of discussion were developments in the Western Balkans, Climate Diplomacy and other current regional and international issues. Over the course of a working lunch, the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial meeting took place.
Speaking during the discussion on the security situation in Eastern Europe, the Foreign Minister reiterated Cyprus' support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing the need to exhaust all diplomatic efforts and dialogue to defuse the situation. In particular, Mr. Kasoulides welcomed the efforts by France and Germany in the context of the Normandy Format, as well as the initiatives within the framework of the OSCE, under the chairmanship of Poland. Our wish and hope is for normality to return to the country and for all parties involved to show a constructive attitude so that peace and stability prevail in the region, the Foreign Minister concluded.
Ministers also had the opportunity to exchange views on current developments in the Western Balkans, with an emphasis on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his intervention, Mr. Kasoulides welcomed the efforts made by the High Representative towards the resumption of the dialogue between the stakeholders and stressed that the EU must remain committed to supporting the efforts to normalize the situation and resolve the crisis at the earliest.
The Joint Council meeting between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which copmrises the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, took place over lunch. Speaking also on behalf of his Austrian counterpart, Foreign Minister Kasoulides addressed the issue of the latest developments in Lebanon and Syria, stressing the need for coordination of efforts between the EU, the GCC and the United Nations in relation to the developments in those countries.
On the sidelines of the Council's session, the Foreign Minister held a bilateral meeting with the EU High Representative for the Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, with whom he discussed issues related to the EU's foreign and security policy which are currently on the international agenda. They also had the opportunity to exchange views on the Cyprus problem. In the context of the latter, Mr. Kasoulides presented the rationale as well as the individual aspects of the CBMs package put forward by the Government of Cyprus and asked for the EU's contribution in their further promotion. Lausanne
The Foreign Minister also met with the Italian Foreign Minister, Mr. Luigi di Maio, with whom he exchanged views on issues of bilateral, regional and international interest, and had a brief conversation with the German Foreign Minister, Ms. Annalena Baerbock.
Following the conculsion of the Council's session, the Foreign Minister will depart Brussels for Paris, where the French Presidency of the EU Council will host a Ministerial meeting on Tuesday morning on international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Mr. Kasoulides will participate in a roundtable discussion on international challenges regarding climate, health, biodiversity and the oceans.