Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić 19 March attended a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). The main topics included Ukraine, Syria and Iran. On the sidelines, the EU foreign ministers held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. Pejčinović Burić also reported on her visits to Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania 12-15 March.
At the beginning of the meeting, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reported on the current situation regarding the Salisbury attack. The ministers adopted a statement expressing the EU’s unqualified solidarity with the UK and its support, including for the UK’s efforts to bring those responsible for this crime to justice. The use of chemical weapons is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, a breach of international law and undermines the rules-based international order. The EU welcomes the commitment of the UK to work closely with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in supporting the investigation into the attack, reads the statement.
The discussion about Ukraine focused on the reform processes and the current situation in the conflict area. The ministers welcomed the progress achieved on economic reform, while underlining the need to step up efforts on some other areas, including the judiciary and anti-corruption. The Council reiterated its commitment to its non-recognition policy and support for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. The ministers expressed their concern over the humanitarian side in Eastern Ukraine and reiterated their full support for the work of the OSCE in the region.
The Council discussed the latest development in Syria with Staffan de Mistura, UN Secretary General Special Envoy for Syria. The ministers commended his relentless efforts to push for a political solution to the conflict, expressing their full support for these efforts and recalling that the EU has always clearly stated there can be no military solution to the conflict. They also expressed concern over the increasingly deteriorating humanitarian situation. They urged all those involved to fully and immediately implement UN Security Council resolution 2401. They also discussed the upcoming second Brussels conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” on 24-25 April 2018, to be co-chaired by the EU and the UN. The EU member states remain committed to supporting the political process, including humanitarian action and communication with the key international and regional actors. When the conditions are there, i.e. when the valid transition begins, the EU will get involved in a comprehensive post-war reconstruction of Syria.
As for Iran, the ministers underlined the importance of the Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA, for the security of the region and beyond, as well as the role of Iran in the increasing tensions in the region, including in Syria and Yemen They highlighted the need to ensure the continuous commitment of all parties involved to the agreement.
At an informal lunch with the South Korean Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung-wha, the ministers focused on the situation on the Korean peninsula. They discussed the preconditions for dialogue and diplomatic efforts aimed at the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
At the end of the meeting, Pejčinović Burić reported on her visits to Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania. She underlined that, in the context of the new European Commission’s Enlargement Strategy, the EU should take into account its Southeast European partners and support their European perspective.