Foreign Minister Maris Riekstiņš: Kyrgyzstan's provisional government should honour international commitments [26 Apr 2010]

On 26 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstiņš takes part in the meeting of the European Union's General Affairs Council and the External Relations Council in Luxemburg. As part of the External Relations Council, there was also a meeting of the EU member states ministers of foreign affairs and of defence.

At the joint session, with participation of NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, foreign ministers and defence ministers talked about Afghanistan. The ministers reviewed the EU's further engagement in Afghanistan, but the European Commission presented a report on the progress with the implementation of the EU Action plan for strengthening the EU's involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The ministers will also approve the Council conclusions on the European security and defence policy.

At the External Relations Council, the ministers addressed the current situation in Kyrgyzstan following disturbances earlier this April. Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš urged his colleagues to look at the issue within a broader regional context and emphasised the necessity to hold elections in Kyrgyzstan as soon as possible, while sustaining relations with Kyrgyzstan's provisional government at the level of experts. "Dynamic efforts by the European Union are required to ensure stability in the country. The relations between the EU and the provisional government of Kyrgyzstan should be maintained at the level of experts, as the legitimacy of this government is questionable," Minister Riekstiņš noted during the discussion. The Latvian Foreign Minister also urged to remind the Kyrgyz provisional government that it had to honour international agreements.

In addition, the Council's agenda included the issue on the situation in Sudan in the wake of the first multi-party elections in 24 years that took place from 11 to15 April. The foreign ministers also discussed the current situation in Burma/Myanmar, including the parliamentary elections due this autumn, as well as debated the possible EU fact finding visit to Burma/Myanmar, and possibilities for the EU's further involvement in this country.

The General Affairs Council and External Relations Council meeting of EU foreign ministers is held on a monthly basis. Under the Treaty of Lisbon, the General Affairs Council is chaired by the foreign minister of the country currently holding the EU Presidency, but the External Relations Council is chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.