FM Stier: NATO strongly supports Ukraine's integrity

(Hina) - NATO strongly supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and the European Union's sanctions against Russia will remain in force until the Minsk agreement is honoured

(Hina) - NATO strongly supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and the European Union's sanctions against Russia will remain in force until the Minsk agreement is honoured, Croatian Foreign Minister Davor Ivo Stier said in Brussels on Wednesday after a meeting of foreign ministers of NATO's 28 member states and their Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin.

"NATO is continuing to strongly support Ukraine and its territorial integrity. It's also clear that the Minsk agreement must be honoured and, until that is achieved, the EU will keep sanctions in force," Stier said. "The implementation of the Minsk agreement is key for solving the crisis."

Stier said he informed the meeting about Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's recent visit to Ukraine and that Ukraine welcomed it. "We made a clear statement about Ukraine's territorial integrity and the peaceful solving of the crisis, in which our experience can certainly serve as an inspiration. It was also underlined that all of NATO supports Ukraine in the reforms it must undertake, not just regarding cooperation in the defence sector, but in building the rule of law."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gave a similar message.

On the margins of the Brussels meeting, Stier held bilateral talks with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "With my German counterpart I talked about the migration issue and his trip to Lebanon and our bilateral cooperation," Stier said, adding that he would officially visit Berlin in the 14th.

Steinmeier and Stier also talked about the situation in Southeast Europe. "We share the same view that it is in the interest of both Croatia and Germany to work together on the Euro-Atlantic path of all countries in Southeast Europe."

In the talks with Cavusoglu, Stier pointed to Turkey's role in the handling of the migrant crisis. Croatia is among the EU member states against a proposal to suspend EU accession negotiations with Turkey. "We believe we must have a balanced approach towards Turkey and an open channel of communication," Stier said.

He and Cavusoglu also talked about the situation in Southeast Europe. Croatia is part of a trilateral with Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina "and that's a good format for strengthening our cooperation," said Stier.

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