Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins gratified with Council's conclusions on European conscience and totalitarianism

On 15 June, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins attended the meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) held in Luxembourg. At the GAERC meeting, the EU foreign ministers prepared for the European Council of 18-19 June as well as discussed topical issues of bilateral relations. The EU foreign ministers also approved the Council conclusions on European conscience and totalitarianism as well as a draft EU-U.S. joint statement on Guantanamo.

While preparing for the European Council meeting of 18-19 June, the EU foreign ministers debated the issues on the European Council's agenda - the Lisbon Treaty and the EU's institutional issues; the economic, financial and social situation in the EU; climate change and sustainable development; illegal migration, as well as external relations. It is expected that the forthcoming European Council will achieve an agreement on the solution of legal guarantees for Ireland with regard to the Lisbon Treaty and on the appointment of the European Commission president. The European Council is to evaluate the measures taken to date for the stabilisation of financial markets and for economic recovery. The Member States will debate a new EU level framework for the monitoring of financial markets. In preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December this year, the European Council will discuss the principles for financing climate change and the sharing among Member States of the relevant EU contribution.

Participating in the discussion on the key points on the European Council's agenda, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins emphasised the necessity to carry out the EU initiative in the field of employment. The initiative foresees the reduction of member state co-financing to the EU funded projects in 2009 and 2010.

Minister Riekstins expressed satisfaction with the fact that the European Council is to address the issues of vital importance for Latvia – the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the Baltic Region Energy Interconnection Plan.

Minister Riekstins is gratified that the GAERC has approved the Council conclusions on European conscience and totalitarianism and that the Council supports the opinion by the European Parliament regarding the need to raise awareness in Europe on crimes perpetrated by totalitarian regimes.

The GAERC approved a draft joint statement by the EU and its Member States and by the United States of America on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre and on further co-operation in fighting terrorism, while supporting shared values and international law as well as upholding the rule of law and respecting human rights. 

In their discussion on other topical issues of external relations, the foreign ministers agreed on the necessity of a continued dialogue with Cuba, and gave an assessment to the situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the recent address by Binyamin Netanyahu, President of Israel.

The EU foreign ministers reviewed the current situation in the Middle East peace process, the role of Syria therein, as well as the expanding of the EU-Syria relations. The ministers also discussed the elections in Lebanon which took place on 7 June and their impact on Lebanon's future development.

The GAERC approved the European Council's conclusions regarding Cuba. Last year the EU came forth with a proposal to resume a political dialogue with Cuba. On 17 September 2008, the Cuban government expressed its consent to renew 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 EU foreign ministers adopted conclusions on regional co-operation and visa liberalization for the Western Balkans Region. The Council restated its support for the dialogue on visa liberalisation with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, based on clear and realistic benchmarks and on a country-by-country assessment. Council encouraged the European Commission to present as soon as possible a legislative proposal, in order to achieve a visa free regime by the end of 2009 with those countries that will have met all the benchmarks.

The Council exchanged views on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the light of the upcoming Peace Implementation Council's Steering Board meeting on 29 and 30 June 2009.

At the working lunch, the EU foreign ministers had an extensive discussion with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia Prosecutor Serge Brammertz on Serbia's co-operation with the Tribunal.

The EU foreign ministers also debated the EU's further policy in the issue of Burma/Myanmar, as well as the strained situation in the country due to the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the principal opposition force, the National League for Democracy.

On the GAERC sidelines on 15-16 June, will also be held the EU-Israel Association Council, the EU-Algeria Association Council, the EU-Ukraine Association Council, and the Troika with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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