Foreign Minister to debate situation in Kosovo and Serbia with EU counterparts

On 29 April Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will take part in a meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Luxembourg. The agenda of the meeting will include discussions on the current situation in Kosovo and Serbia in relation to the early parliamentary and municipal elections in Serbia, which are due to take place on 11 May. The GAERC is also scheduled to adopt its conclusions on the Western Balkans.

Foreign ministers plan to debate the current situation in the Middle East, Iraq, and the heightened tension in the relations between Georgia and Russia in connection with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the breakaway regions of Georgia.   

EU's future policy regarding Pakistan, including the adoption of conclusions, and the developments in Zimbabwe following the presidential and parliamentary elections held on 29 March are also on the agenda. As part of the GAERC meeting, the ministers plan to extend the Common Position of the EU Council which renews the restrictive measures imposed on Burma/Myanmar.

The European Commission will brief the ministers on its progress reports about the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy action plans.

Prior to the GAERC meeting there will be a working breakfast of the Baltic and Nordic state (NB6) foreign ministers organised by Minister Riekstins. During the meeting the officials will talk about the implementation and ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon in national parliaments, as well as about the situation in the Western Balkans.  

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