Venezuela, Libya, African Union also on agenda of meeting of EU member state foreign ministers.
[ Ссылка ] #eudebates #Belarus #violence #elections
Foreign ministers of European member states convened a meeting in Brussels Monday to discuss current affairs, including the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean involving Turkey and Greece and the crisis in Belarus.
“We have three main points for discussion, and Belarus is very high in the agenda,” foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters before the meeting, adding that the positive momentum in Libya and relations with the African Union will also be discussed.
Borrell said that the EU will discuss how to support the people of Belarus in the face of ongoing repression of peaceful demonstrations.
“Today we will discuss how to review our relationship with the Belarusian government according to the situation where we don’t recognize [President] Lukashenko,” Borrell added, referring to the country’s longtime ruler, who claimed re-election in August polls disputed by the country’s opposition.
On Libya, Borrell said that there is positive momentum thanks to a recently declared cease-fire, and added: “I see a reason for cautious optimism.”
The Eastern Mediterranean and Venezuela are also on the council’s agenda.
[ Ссылка ] #eudebates #Belarus #violence #elections
Tension in Eastern Med
Tensions have recently escalated over the issue of energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece has disputed Turkey's energy exploration in the region, trying to box in Turkish maritime territory based on small islands near the Turkish coast.
Turkey – the country with the longest coastline on the Mediterranean – has sent out drill ships to explore for energy on its continental shelf, saying that both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have rights in the region.
To reduce tensions, Turkey has called for dialogue to ensure the fair sharing of the region’s resources.
Meanwhile, Turkish and Greek military delegations have held technical meetings at NATO headquarters in Brussels to reduce the risk of an incident in the Mediterranean.
[ Ссылка ] #eudebates #Belarus #violence #elections
[ Ссылка ] #eudebates #Belarus #violence #elections
In their interventions ministers focus in particular on the possible areas on which the EU could focus its actions to solve the Libyan crisis, and the concrete measures that the EU could take to further support the UN efforts in Libya. Ministers are be briefed on the preparations for the EU-AU Foreign Ministers’ meeting on 28 September 2020, and exchange views on both the joint EU-Africa priorities ahead, and outreach to African partners on the road to the EU-AU Summit in the second half of 2020. Ministers also have an opportunity to be updated on the state of play of post-Cotonou negotiations. The Council discusses the latest political developments in Belarus, potential EU support to national inclusive dialogue as well as update on EU financial support to the people of Belarus and on directions of EU-Belarus review. Over a working lunch, ministers will discuss the future partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood, as well as related issues, such as the future programming of bilateral assistance.
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