Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to attend General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting

On 15 June, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will participate in the meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Luxembourg.

At the General Affairs session, a discussion has been planned regarding the conclusions by the European Council of 18 and19 June. The most important issues on the European Council's agenda will be the Lisbon Treaty and the EU's institutional issues, the economic, financial and social situation, climate change, sustainable development, illegal migration, as well as external relations.

At the External Relations session, the ministers plan to adopt conclusions on regional co-operation, the visa liberalisation towards the Western Balkan Region and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European Commission is to present reports on the fulfilment of conditions included in the road maps developed for Western Balkan countries to enable the introduction of visa-free regime. At the working lunch, Serge Brammertz, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, will inform the ministers about the co-operation of Western Balkan countries with the Tribunal. The Presidency will possibly brief about the progress in the EU enlargement negotiations with Croatia.

The ministers plan to review the current situation in the Middle East peace process, the role of Syria, as well as the expanding of the relations between the EU and Syria. A discussion has also scheduled on the elections in Lebanon on 7 June and their impact on Lebanon's future development.

The Council is expected to approve the European Council's annual conclusions with regard to Cuba. In June last year, the EU came forth with a proposal to resume a political dialogue with Cuba. In September 2008, the Cuban government expressed its consent to begin anew a political dialogue with the EU and recognised that such a step was taken after the EU suspended diplomatic sanctions against Cuba in June.

The ministers also plan to debate the EU's future policy towards Burma/Myanmar, and the strained situation in the country due to the hearing on lawsuit against Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the principal opposition force, the National League for Democracy.  

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting of foreign ministers is held on a monthly basis and is chaired by the foreign minister of the country currently holding the EU Presidency.

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