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Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides participated in the proceedings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council held today in Brussels. The Foreign Ministers' discussions focused on the security situation in Eastern Europe and in particular on the latest developments in Ukraine. Additional topics of discussion included developments in the Western Balkans, Climate Diplomacy and other current regional and international issues. During the working lunch, the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministerial meeting was held.
Speaking during the discussion on the security situation in Eastern Europe, the Foreign Minister reiterated Cyprus' support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, stressing the need to exhaust all diplomatic efforts and room for dialogue to defuse the situation. In particular, Mr. Kasoulides welcomed the efforts made by France and Germany in the framework of the Normandy formation as well as the initiatives in the framework of the OSCE, under the chairmanship of Poland. It is our wish and hope that normality will return to the country and that all parties involved will demonstrate a constructive attitude so that peace and stability prevail in the region, he concluded.
The Ministers also had the opportunity to exchange views on current developments in the Western Balkans, with emphasis on the particular situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his intervention, Mr. Kasoulides, after welcoming the efforts made by the High Representative towards the resumption of dialogue between the parties involved, stressed that the EU should remain committed to supporting efforts to normalize the situation and resolve the crisis as soon as possible.
In the framework of a working lunch, the joint EU and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Council, which is composed of six members: the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, was held. The Foreign Minister, speaking also on behalf of the Austrian Foreign Minister, referred to developments in Lebanon and Syria, stressing the need to coordinate the efforts of the EU, the GCC and the UN in relation to developments in these countries.
In the margins of the FAC, the Foreign Minister had a bilateral meeting with the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Josep Borrell, with whom he discussed issues related to the EU's foreign and security policy that are on the international agenda. They also had the opportunity to exchange views on the Cyprus issue. In this context, Mr. Kasoulides presented the rationale and the individual aspects of the package of MEAs proposed by the Cypriot Government and asked for the EU's contribution to their further promotion.
The Foreign Minister also met with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio, with whom he exchanged views on issues of bilateral, regional and international interest, while he had a brief private conversation with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
At the end of the proceedings, the Foreign Minister will leave for Paris where the French Presidency of the Council of the EU will host a ministerial meeting on international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on Tuesday morning. Mr Kasoulides will participate in a round table discussion on international challenges regarding climate, health, biodiversity and oceans.
IK
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