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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. George W. Vella, joined his EU counterparts at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, in which Member States reflected on the situation in the EU’s southern neighbourhood. Addressing the precarious political and security situation in Libya, Minister Vella expressed Malta’s unwavering commitment to a peaceful democratic transition in the country. The Minister stressed that the EU must “increase $its engagement with Libya and enhance its visibility in the country” adding that the emergence of extremist groups in the country is not only a concern to Libyans, but to Europe as well.
Minister Vella reiterated Malta’s support and commitment to the Libyan people, which he conveyed to Prime Minister Ali Zeidan during the Libyan premier’s short stop in Malta last week. In this context, the Minister emphasized that the EU must “show the Libyan people that we are committed to their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future.”
Geneva talks are the start of a process, but the humanitarian suffering of Syrians is a priority
Turning to Syria, Minister Vella hailed the very fact that the long-awaited Geneva II Conference took place as an achievement, and expressed Malta’s commitment to the next round of Geneva talks which began yesterday (10 February 2014).
Noting that the Geneva talks are a process, the Minister nevertheless expressed disappointment at the lack of any agreement on local ceasefires and the opening of humanitarian corridors at the talks in January. He welcomed the recent agreement of the Syrian opposition and Government to temporarily cease hostilities in the besieged city of Homs in order to allow civilians to leave. The Minister expressed his hope that the new Geneva talks will build upon these confidence-building measures and provide fodder for a negotiated political breakthrough.
Minister Vella also referred to the worrying effects that the conflict in Syria was having in neighbouring Lebanon and Iraq.
Latest developments in Tunisia are a “cause to rejoice and hope.”
The Foreign Affairs Council also looked at the latest developments in Egypt and Tunisia. With regard to the latter, Minister welcomed the successful outcome of the efforts of the Constitutional Assembly which is a progressive constitution that could serve as a model to those countries in the region going through transition. The process served as a good example of an Islamist movement accepting to work in a democratic spirit with other political actors towards a common good. He hailed this development, together with the formation of a technocrat transitional government as “welcome news” and a “cause to rejoice and hope.”
With regard to Egypt, Minister Vella welcomed the new Constitution, noting that it “embraces fundamental rights and freedoms, with a specific reference to women’s rights.” While stating that this is very positive and should serve as a basis for the upcoming legislative exercises in the country, he expressed “regret that the process was not fully inclusive.”
The Minister also condemned ongoing acts of violence in Egypt, stating that only an all-inclusive political process can bring stability and economic recovery to the country.
Finally, Ministers also addressed the EU’s Eastern Partnership and the recent EU-Russia Summit. Minister Vella stated that while the EU’s relations with Russia are at a delicate period, there is a solid basis for cooperation upon which mutual understanding can be developed. Turning to the situation in the Ukraine, the Minister reiterated Malta’s position that the “future of the country should be determined by the people of Ukraine. He emphasised that all national stakeholders need to be involved in order to build a new consensus on the way forward in the country.
During the Council meeting, Minister George Vella was accompanied by the Permanent Representative of Malta to the EU, Ambassador Marlene Bonnici.
In the evening Minister Vella attended a dinner hosted by Vice President/High Representative Catherine Ashton for the 28 EU foreign ministers with Candidate Countries (Turkey, Iceland, Montenegro, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia). The main items on the agenda were the Southern Neighbourhood, including the Geneva II talks and the constitutional process in Egypt, and the Eastern Neighbourhood, particularly the Eastern Partnership and the follow up to the Vilnius summit
Minister Vella attends Group for the European Action of the Republic of Moldova breakfast
While in Brussels the Minister for Foreign Affairs, George W. Vella, attended an informal ministerial breakfast along with his EU counterparts, regarding the Republic of Moldova’s relations with the European Union. The event was jointly hosted by France and Romania, and enjoyed an unprecedented level of attendance and interest, signalling the increasing interest of the European Union in its Eastern Partnership.
The Minister noted that the high level of attendance at the ministerial was a sign of the European Union’s support in the run-up to the signature of the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova, expected to take place before the end of August. The Minister linked the ongoing process of reforms in Moldova with increasing political association with the EU. In this context, he noted the relationship between the EU’s values and standards on the one hand, and increasing support for Moldova, including economic integration through a deep and comprehensive free trade area, on the other.
Foreign Ministers were vocal in their support for the signing of the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova, noting with concern a number of developments in relations between Transnistria and Moldova.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. George W. Vella, joined his EU counterparts at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, in which Member States reflected on the situation in the EU’s southern neighbourhood. Addressing the precarious political and security situation in Libya, Minister Vella expressed Malta’s unwavering commitment to a peaceful democratic transition in the country. The Minister stressed that the EU must “increase $its engagement with Libya and enhance its visibility in the country” adding that the emergence of extremist groups in the country is not only a concern to Libyans, but to Europe as well.
Minister Vella reiterated Malta’s support and commitment to the Libyan people, which he conveyed to Prime Minister Ali Zeidan during the Libyan premier’s short stop in Malta last week. In this context, the Minister emphasized that the EU must “show the Libyan people that we are committed to their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future.”
Geneva talks are the start of a process, but the humanitarian suffering of Syrians is a priority
Turning to Syria, Minister Vella hailed the very fact that the long-awaited Geneva II Conference took place as an achievement, and expressed Malta’s commitment to the next round of Geneva talks which began yesterday (10 February 2014).
Noting that the Geneva talks are a process, the Minister nevertheless expressed disappointment at the lack of any agreement on local ceasefires and the opening of humanitarian corridors at the talks in January. He welcomed the recent agreement of the Syrian opposition and Government to temporarily cease hostilities in the besieged city of Homs in order to allow civilians to leave. The Minister expressed his hope that the new Geneva talks will build upon these confidence-building measures and provide fodder for a negotiated political breakthrough.
Minister Vella also referred to the worrying effects that the conflict in Syria was having in neighbouring Lebanon and Iraq.
Latest developments in Tunisia are a “cause to rejoice and hope.”
The Foreign Affairs Council also looked at the latest developments in Egypt and Tunisia. With regard to the latter, Minister welcomed the successful outcome of the efforts of the Constitutional Assembly which is a progressive constitution that could serve as a model to those countries in the region going through transition. The process served as a good example of an Islamist movement accepting to work in a democratic spirit with other political actors towards a common good. He hailed this development, together with the formation of a technocrat transitional government as “welcome news” and a “cause to rejoice and hope.”
With regard to Egypt, Minister Vella welcomed the new Constitution, noting that it “embraces fundamental rights and freedoms, with a specific reference to women’s rights.” While stating that this is very positive and should serve as a basis for the upcoming legislative exercises in the country, he expressed “regret that the process was not fully inclusive.”
The Minister also condemned ongoing acts of violence in Egypt, stating that only an all-inclusive political process can bring stability and economic recovery to the country.
Finally, Ministers also addressed the EU’s Eastern Partnership and the recent EU-Russia Summit. Minister Vella stated that while the EU’s relations with Russia are at a delicate period, there is a solid basis for cooperation upon which mutual understanding can be developed. Turning to the situation in the Ukraine, the Minister reiterated Malta’s position that the “future of the country should be determined by the people of Ukraine. He emphasised that all national stakeholders need to be involved in order to build a new consensus on the way forward in the country.
During the Council meeting, Minister George Vella was accompanied by the Permanent Representative of Malta to the EU, Ambassador Marlene Bonnici.
In the evening Minister Vella attended a dinner hosted by Vice President/High Representative Catherine Ashton for the 28 EU foreign ministers with Candidate Countries (Turkey, Iceland, Montenegro, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia). The main items on the agenda were the Southern Neighbourhood, including the Geneva II talks and the constitutional process in Egypt, and the Eastern Neighbourhood, particularly the Eastern Partnership and the follow up to the Vilnius summit
Minister Vella attends Group for the European Action of the Republic of Moldova breakfast
While in Brussels the Minister for Foreign Affairs, George W. Vella, attended an informal ministerial breakfast along with his EU counterparts, regarding the Republic of Moldova’s relations with the European Union. The event was jointly hosted by France and Romania, and enjoyed an unprecedented level of attendance and interest, signalling the increasing interest of the European Union in its Eastern Partnership.
The Minister noted that the high level of attendance at the ministerial was a sign of the European Union’s support in the run-up to the signature of the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova, expected to take place before the end of August. The Minister linked the ongoing process of reforms in Moldova with increasing political association with the EU. In this context, he noted the relationship between the EU’s values and standards on the one hand, and increasing support for Moldova, including economic integration through a deep and comprehensive free trade area, on the other.
Foreign Ministers were vocal in their support for the signing of the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova, noting with concern a number of developments in relations between Transnistria and Moldova.
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