Minister Pusić on Foreign Affairs Council discussion

Any change to the EU's sanctions against Russia would depend on Russia's conduct in Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk agreement, First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić said in Brussels on Monday

(Hina) - Any change to the EU's sanctions against Russia would depend on Russia's conduct in Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk agreement, First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić said in Brussels on Monday.

The EU today began a strategic discussion on relations with Russia.

Pusić said the EU stuck by its position not to recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea, but added that the EU continued to cooperate and talk with Russia on global topics such as Syria, Iraq, Islamic State and terrorism.

The member states once again showed their solidarity with France after last week's terrorist attacks, which left 17 dead, Pusić said after the meeting at which the secretary-general of the Arab League, Nabil El-Araby, was a quest.

"A wide discussion was opened on how to oppose terrorism in Europe and, in this context, on how to oppose perhaps the biggest and most perfidious danger of terrorism, namely that because of terrorism the member states start reducing civil rights and liberties, which are in the foundations of European values," Pusić said.

"We talked about that and the dangers of anti-Islamism in Europe with the secretary-general of the Arab League. We talked about the possibility that some Muslim and Arab leaders take the lead role in the fight against terrorism, which is hiding behind Islam," she said, adding that Croatia was a very positive example of relations with the Islamic community.

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