Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides participated in the proceedings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which took place today, 23 January 2023, in Brussels.
Developments in Ukraine, as well as the security situation and the rise of terrorism in the Sahel region and the coastal states of West Africa were the main topics of discussion of the Foreign Ministers. Also under the heading of current affairs, the Ministers had the opportunity to be briefed and exchange views on a number of topical issues. The Ministers also attended a working lunch in the presence of the Prime Minister of Palestine, Mr Mohammad Shtayyeh.
In his intervention during the discussion on Ukraine, the Foreign Minister referred to the unity and determination with which the EU has acted over the past almost a year, unequivocally condemning Russian aggression and offering universal support to the Government and people of Ukraine. In this context, he said that Cyprus is actively involved in initiatives to support the resilience of Ukraine and its suffering people, including the provision of €300,000 in assistance towards the purchase of power generators, which will be provided in cooperation with our Polish partners. In addition, he referred to the efforts being made to end the war, stressing that the EU must play an active and substantial role. After welcoming the renewal of the UN Black Sea Grains Initiative, the Foreign Minister expressed disappointment that Cyprus is not in a position to participate in this initiative due to the bans imposed on Cypriot ships by Turkey. In conclusion, Kasoulides referred to the need for effective implementation of sanctions, stressing that the practices of circumventing sanctions by some countries are hindering overall efforts to impose heavy costs on Russia's ability to continue the war against Ukraine.
Speaking during the discussion on the security situation in the Sahel region, Kasoulides expressed concern about the deteriorating situation, noting the importance of maintaining the EU's presence in the region. In the context of the discussion, the Foreign Minister also had the opportunity to express his thanks to the European External Action Service for the support provided to his personal envoy who recently visited the Gambia.
During the discussion of the issues included in the current affairs item, Mr. Kasoulides expressed, inter alia, Cyprus' satisfaction with the establishment of the CSDP non-military mission in Armenia. At the same time, he made specific reference to the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor, underlining the importance of the EU presence, in particular to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of this blockade.
At the working lunch, held in the presence of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, Mr. Kasoulides expressed Cyprus' support for the further deepening of the EU's relations with Palestine. At the same time, he stressed that Cyprus supports the two-state solution within the framework of the Middle East Peace Process (MPA), and called on the EU to take an active role in restarting the process. The Foreign Minister also referred to the recent rising tensions and challenges in the Old City of Jerusalem, stressing the need for restraint and de-escalation in order to preserve the religious status quo in the Old City. Kasoulides had a meeting with the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, during which the current situation in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue was reviewed.
(MF/MB)
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